UN court concludes hearing on South Africa's plea against Israel's operations in Gaza

STORY: UN court concludes hearing on South Africa's plea against Israel's operations in Gaza SHOOTING TIME: May 17, 2024 DATELINE: May 18, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:19 LOCATION: THE HAGUE, the Netherlands CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the Netherlands STORYLINE: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday concluded its two-day hearings regarding South Africa's request to halt Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The hearings were convened after South Africa lodged a plea to the ICJ one week ago for an order to stop Israel's military operation in Gaza. On Thursday's session, South Africa's Ambassador to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela urged the court to order Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza, including in Rafah, and withdraw its troops from the entire Gaza Strip. Additionally, the ambassador called for Israel to take "all effective measures" to ensure unimpeded access to Gaza for the United Natio

(ChineseToday)CHINA-SHANXI-YUNGANG GROTTOES-NPC DEPUTY (CN)

(ChineseToday)CHINA-SHANXI-YUNGANG GROTTOES-NPC DEPUTY (CN)

(240307) -- DATONG, March 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Hang Kan (2nd R) talks with tourists and learns about their requests at the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, Feb. 25, 2024. Hang Kan is head of the research institute of the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring over 50,000 stone Buddhist sculptures. Yungang Grottoes was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). It is considered a pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art and represents the highest level of sculptural artistry in the world during the 5th century. In Hang's view, preventive protection and more investment in science and technology are crucial for the Yungang Grottoes. In 2023, Hang was elected a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). He has been actively promoting the scientific research and personnel training of Yungang Grottoes, hoping to explore the historical connotation of exchanges among ethnic groups behind the works of art and enhance the sense of community for Chinese natio

West African bloc to gradually ease sanctions on Niger

STORY: West African bloc to gradually ease sanctions on Niger SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 10, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:35 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of heads of state and government of ECOWAS in the Nigerian capital of Abuja 2. various of participants of the meetings STORYLINE: The 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has promised a gradual easing of sanctions on Niger based on outcomes of engagement with the military junta in that country following the ousting of President Mohammed Bazoum in July. In a statement at the end of the 64th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in the Nigerian capital of Abuja Sunday, the West African bloc set up a committee made up of the presidents of Togo, Sierra Leone, and Benin to engage with the military junta in Niger on the need for a short transition roadmap and the emplacement of monitoring mechanisms. "Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the CNSP (Natio

Egypt condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities, extremists

STORY: Egypt condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities, extremists DATELINE: July 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egypt's Foreign Ministry headquarters in Cairo 2. various of Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry speaking in a press conference 3.various of Egypt's Foreign Ministry headquarters STORYLINE: Egypt condemned on Thursday the storming of East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli government officials and hundreds of extremists, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It denounced the Israeli authorities banning Muslim worshippers from exercising the right of accessing the holy site. The ministry warned against the dangerous repercussions of such irresponsible practices on regional security and stability. It called on the Israeli authorities to stop such provocative and escalating actions that would ignite the situation in the occupied territories. Earlier in the day, Israel's far-right Natio

Cambodia attracts 1.1 bln USD fixed-asset investment in H1 of 2023

STORY: Cambodia attracts 1.1 bln USD fixed-asset investment in H1 of 2023 DATELINE: July 11, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:59 LOCATION: Phnom Penh CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. the Council of the Development of Cambodia in Phnom Penh 2. various of high-rise buildings in Phnom Penh 3. aerial view of Phnom Penh 4. various of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone 5. various of garment workers leaving a factory 6. various of rice mill STORYLINE: Cambodia attracted 113 fixed-asset investment projects worth 1.1 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2023, creating some 122,000 new jobs, said a Council for the Development of Cambodia's report on Tuesday. "During the January-June period this year, China is the top foreign investor to Cambodia, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total investment to the country," the report said, adding that the kingdom approved investment projects worth nearly 723 million dollars from China during the period. It added that other foreign investors to the Southeast Asian natio

Int'l Children's Day celebrated in Budapest with splash of Chinese culture

STORY: Int'l Children's Day celebrated in Budapest with splash of Chinese culture DATELINE: May 29, 2023 LENGTH: 00:04:04 LOCATION: Budapest CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Hungarian): BOGLARKA, Visitor 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Hungarian): NIKI, Visitor 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (Hungarian): NATI, Visitor 4. SOUNDBITE 4 (Hungarian): TIMI, Visitor 5. general view of the event 6. various of visitors participating in the event STORYLINE: Budapest City Park in the Hungarian capital came alive with vibrant colors and joyful laughter as children and families gathered to celebrate International Children's Day on Sunday. The park was transformed into a multicultural display, offering a collection of programs and activities for children of all ages. The event, organized by the International Children's Safety Service (ICSS), aimed to provide high-quality cultural experiences to those from less privileged backgrounds without charging an entrance fee. One of the main highlights of the celebration was the Boulevard of Natio

Kishida, Biden meet ahead of G7 gathering in Hiroshima amid protests, tightened security

STORY: Kishida, Biden meet ahead of G7 gathering in Hiroshima amid protests, tightened security DATELINE: May 19, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:12 LOCATION: HIROSHIMA, Japan CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Japan-U.S. talks 2. various of the protest 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): RYO MIYAHARA, Head of a Hiroshima citizens' group and one of the protests' organizers 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): AKAMINE CHIAKI, College student from Okinawa STORYLINE: Japanese and U.S. top leaders on Thursday met in Hiroshima prior to the larger gathering of Group of Seven (G7) nations, overshadowed by protests and a tense atmosphere. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who holds the G7's rotating presidency and will host a three-day G7 summit which starts Friday, held talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday evening in the western Japanese city. Hiroshima, devastated by U.S. atomic bombings in 1945, has seen intense demonstrations decrying the bloc days before the summit, while police officers from all over the natio

Malaysian PM passes confidence vote

STORY: Malaysian PM passes confidence vote DATELINE: Dec. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:20 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Malaysia Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur 2. various of the parliament session of the day at the lower house of parliament (released by Malaysian Parliament on Dec. 19) 3. various of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the parliament session (released by Malaysian Parliament on Dec. 19) STORYLINE: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim passed a crucial confidence vote in the country's lower house of parliament on Monday. The motion was passed via voice vote rather than a bloc vote, and the move cemented Anwar's position as prime minister. The vote follows a memorandum of understanding signed by five political coalitions on Friday, with the heads of the coalitions agreeing to throw their weight behind Anwar and to ensure the unity government's stability. Malaysia has been in a political stalemate following the indecisive results of a snap natio

China a leading engine of regional, global recovery: Thai top business advisor

STORY: China a leading engine of regional, global recovery: Thai top business advisor DATELINE: Nov. 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:36 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: ECONOMY/POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of APEC logo 2. SOUNDBITE (THAI): KRIENGKRAI THIENNUKUL, 2022 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Chairman STORYLINE: The 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will kick off Friday in Bangkok, Thailand with economic recovery and sustainable growth high on the agenda. A top business advisor of the host country says China will take a more positive role in driving both regional and global sustainable recovery. SOUNDBITE (Thai): KRIENGKRAI THIENNUKUL, 2022 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Chairman "China has massive economic power. Therefore, China, as a member of the 21 (APEC) economies, has been a driving force not only to the bloc, but also the entire world. China is one of the world's main engines. Because of the pandemic and high inflation, the world's economic engines have been weakened. After the 20th Natio

(SP)CHINA-ZHANGJIAKOU-BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS-NATIONAL SKI JUMPING CENTER

(SP)CHINA-ZHANGJIAKOU-BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS-NATIONAL SKI JUMPING CENTER

(220119) -- ZHANGJIAKOU, Jan. 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- China's National Ski Jumping Center, also known as "Snow Ruyi", is located in Zhangjiakou, co-host city for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which will host competitions in Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined event, has a 'S-type' curve that resembles the shape of 'ruyi', a traditional Chinese ornamental object for luck. The National Ski Jumping Center has the longest ski jumping trail in the world and is the first ski jumping venue in line with international standards.From Dec. 3 to 5, 2021, "Snow Ruyi" hosted FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup and FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup, as the test events for the Beijing 2022. There are only 15 days countdown to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, China's National Ski Jumping Center gears up to welcome athletes from all over the world. Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2019 shows the construction site of Natio.....

(SP)CHINA-ZHANGJIAKOU-BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS-NATIONAL SKI JUMPING CENTER

(SP)CHINA-ZHANGJIAKOU-BEIJING WINTER OLYMPICS-NATIONAL SKI JUMPING CENTER

(220119) -- ZHANGJIAKOU, Jan. 19, 2022 (Xinhua) -- China's National Ski Jumping Center, also known as "Snow Ruyi", is located in Zhangjiakou, co-host city for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which will host competitions in Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined event, has a 'S-type' curve that resembles the shape of 'ruyi', a traditional Chinese ornamental object for luck. The National Ski Jumping Center has the longest ski jumping trail in the world and is the first ski jumping venue in line with international standards.From Dec. 3 to 5, 2021, "Snow Ruyi" hosted FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup and FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup, as the test events for the Beijing 2022. There are only 15 days countdown to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, China's National Ski Jumping Center gears up to welcome athletes from all over the world. Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2020 shows the construction site of Natio.....