Egypt seeks to secure 3.5 mln tonnes of local wheat in 2024 supply season

STORY: Egypt seeks to secure 3.5 mln tonnes of local wheat in 2024 supply season SHOOTING TIME: Archive DATELINE: April 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egypt's Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade 2. shot of the minister of supply and internal trade speaking 3. various of wheat harvesting STORYLINE: Egypt's Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has announced that its silos and receiving points will commence the purchase of local wheat from farmers starting Monday. According to Ali Moselhi, minister of supply and internal trade, Egypt has set its sights on acquiring 3.5 million tonnes of local wheat in the 2024 procurement season. The ministry further emphasized that farmers will receive their financial dues within 24 hours just after supplying the wheat quantities. While wheat supplying remains optional this season, the ministry pointed out that transporting wheat from one location to another, without an official permit in the respective gover

Optional parts for Prius to power appliances

Optional parts for Prius to power appliances

NAGOYA, Japan - Photo shows Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid car. The automaker said on Oct. 22, 2012, it has started selling power outlets as optional parts for the Prius, enabling owners to power home alliances using the vehicle's rechargeable battery in the event of a blackout.

Brother to sell fax machine that can scare off intruder

Brother to sell fax machine that can scare off intruder

NAGOYA, Japan - Brother Industries Ltd. said on Jan. 27 it will launch in February a fax machine and an optional infrared sensor (photo) that can be used to scare off intruders with an alarm. The sensor, which can be placed up to 40 meters away from the fax machine, can sense an approaching human or animal, and if it catches such a signal, it will automatically make a phone call in 30 seconds to numbers registered in the machine.

Egypt launches pilot program to teach Chinese in middle schools

STORY: Egypt launches pilot program to teach Chinese in middle schools DATELINE: Sept. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: CULTURE/EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of the ceremony 2. Zhang Tao, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Egypt, speaking through a video message 3. various of guests attending the ceremony 4. SOUNDBITE(Arabic): MOHAMED MEGAHED, Egypt's deputy minister of Education and Technical Education 5. various of guests attending the ceremony STORYLINE: A ceremony was held at the Confucius Institute of Cairo University on Sunday to launch a pilot program for teaching the Chinese language in Egyptian middle schools and a training program for Egyptian teachers. Zhang Tao, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Egypt, said in a video message that 12 public middle schools in Egypt would be included in the pilot program. Zhang said that in September 2020, China and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding to teach Chinese as an optional second foreign language in Egypti

2nd Confucius Institute inaugurated in Nepal

STORY: 2nd Confucius Institute inaugurated in Nepal DATELINE: Aug. 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:47 LOCATION: Kathmandu CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of the inauguration ceremony STORYLINE: The Confucius Institute at Tribhuvan University, the second of its kind in Nepal, was inaugurated on Tuesday in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, with the stakeholders pledging more resources to make it a better platform for cooperation. Though initiated in 2019, the university's institute hit a two-year hiatus from 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Liu Yueming, the Chinese director of the institute. Addressing the inauguration ceremony via video link, Nepali Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel noted that the Nepali side has recognized the importance of the Chinese language and listed it as an optional course for students from grade nine to grade 12 starting this year. The minister believes that the learning of each other's languages and cultures helps elevate relation

Int'l ballet workshop reopens in Cuba after hiatus due to pandemic

STORY: Int'l ballet workshop reopens in Cuba after hiatus due to pandemic DATELINE: July 26, 2022 LENGTH: 0:02:53 LOCATION: Havana CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1 various of the ballet training 2 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): MERCEDES BELTRAN, Director of the Dance Cathedral at the National Ballet of Cuba 3 various of the ballet training STORYLINE: The International Summer Workshop at the Cuban National Ballet is back after a hiatus of more than two years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, there are about 180 students, professional dancers and professors from Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, the United States and Costa Rica. In the workshop, the participants will receive an intensive program focused on individual and group stage performance. This summer workshop also offers a group of optional assignments, such as Cuban popular dance, choreographic creation and ballet makeup. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): MERCEDES BELTRAN, Director of the Dance Cathedral at the National Ballet of Cuba "Students and dancers are participating in

Parts of Peru end COVID-19 face masks mandate

STORY: Parts of Peru end COVID-19 face masks mandate DATELINE: April 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Lima CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views of Lima 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): ANIBAL TORRES, President of Council of Ministers 3. various of street views of Lima STORYLINE: Peru on Wednesday declared the use of face masks to be "optional" in regions of the country where at least 80 percent of residents have been vaccinated with three doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The decision took into effect on Thursday. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): ANIBAL TORRES, President of Council of Ministers "It has been agreed upon that in places where 80 percent of local residents have had all three vaccine doses, the use of masks will be optional. Whether one wants to use them or not is up to the individual in public places." Meanwhile, Peru's Minister of Health Jorge Lopez declared that as of now, the localities that allowed them to drop the face mask mandate are the capital Lima and greater Lima province, as well as th

Schools in Indian capital reopened at full capacity after 2 years

STORY: Schools in Indian capital reopened at full capacity after 2 years DATELINE: April 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: various of India gatevarious of schools and studentsvarious of street view STORYLINE: Authorities in the Indian capital region Friday reopened schools fully in offline mode after a gap of two years. It is for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that physical attendance was made no longer optional. Schools in Delhi were first closed in March 2020 immediately after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent imposition of a countrywide lockdown. The classwork resumed after some time in online mode and students were asked to attend classes sitting at their homes while remaining connected to their school teachers via the Internet. Although the schools reopened for in-person classes multiple times in the past two years, the online mode was never called off. Last year, schools reopened briefly, howe

INDIA-NEW DELHI-SCHOOL REOPEN

INDIA-NEW DELHI-SCHOOL REOPEN

(220401) -- NEW DELHI, April 1, 2022 (Xinhua) -- School students are on their way home after school in New Delhi on April 1, 2022. Authorities in the Indian capital region Friday reopened schools fully in offline mode after a gap of two years. It is for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that physical attendance was made no longer optional. (Photo by Partha Sarkar/Xinhua)

INDIA-NEW DELHI-SCHOOL REOPEN

INDIA-NEW DELHI-SCHOOL REOPEN

(220401) -- NEW DELHI, April 1, 2022 (Xinhua) -- School students are on their way home after school in New Delhi on April 1, 2022. Authorities in the Indian capital region Friday reopened schools fully in offline mode after a gap of two years. It is for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that physical attendance was made no longer optional. (Photo by Partha Sarkar/Xinhua)

INDIA-NEW DELHI-SCHOOL REOPEN

INDIA-NEW DELHI-SCHOOL REOPEN

(220401) -- NEW DELHI, April 1, 2022 (Xinhua) -- School students are on their way home after school in New Delhi on April 1, 2022. Authorities in the Indian capital region Friday reopened schools fully in offline mode after a gap of two years. It is for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that physical attendance was made no longer optional. (Photo by Partha Sarkar/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students arrive at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students arrive at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students arrive at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students arrive at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students arrive at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A parent greets his son's friend as students arrive at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

U.S.-CHICAGO-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-LIFTED

(220314) -- CHICAGO, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A student gets a hug from a teacher as she arrives at Rogers Fine Art Elementary School in Chicago, the United States, on March 14, 2022. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the third largest school district in the United States, lifted mask mandate and introduced a mask-optional policy beginning Monday. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

Cuba introduces Chinese language course into secondary education

STORY: Cuba introduces Chinese language course into secondary education DATELINE: March 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:55 LOCATION: Havana CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of students at Cuba's Fructuoso Rodriguez secondary school 2. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin): MA HUI, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba 3. various of students 4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): HOU JIAQI, Chinese language teacher STORYLINE: The Cuban Ministry of Education has introduced a Chinese language course into secondary education. At Fructuoso Rodriguez secondary school, nearly 130 seventh graders can choose Chinese as an optional subject this semester starting on Monday. Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Ma Hui said the two countries have taken a significant step to develop their relations through culture and education. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin): MA HUI, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba "I'm fully convinced that knowing about Chinese culture and language will bring many opportunities for students in the future." Over the years, the interest in studying Chinese has grown in

U.S.-CHICAGO-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-DROPPING

U.S.-CHICAGO-COVID-19-MASK MANDATE-DROPPING

(220228) -- CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A sign "Masks Optional" is seen on the wall of City Hall in Chicago, the United States, on Feb. 28, 2022. Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, dropped mask mandate in most of places indoors and outdoors as of Monday, as the entire Chicago area is currently in the low risk category. (Photo by Vincent D. Johnson/Xinhua)

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

(220209) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People line up to have COVID-19 tests at a testing site in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

(220209) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People wearing face masks walk out of a coffee shop in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

(220209) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A sign requiring people to wear face masks is seen on a door in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

(220209) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A man walks past a sign reminding people to wear face masks in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

(220209) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People walk on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

U.S.-NEW YORK-COVID-19-RESTRICTIONS-EASE

(220209) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People wearing face masks walk on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 9, 2022. New York State on Wednesday joined New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and California in easing the requirement for mask or proof of vaccination in indoor settings as daily new COVID-19 cases plummeted recently. New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that statewide indoor business mask-or-vaccine requirement will be lifted starting Thursday and will remain optional for businesses, local governments and counties to enforce. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

KAIWA's stainless steel vise for MC

KAIWA's stainless steel vise for MC

Kaiwa (Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture) has launched a new stainless steel 5-direction centering vise for machining centers (MCs) that holds workpieces from four directions on both sides of the XY axis. It is suitable for ultra-precision machining of workpieces up to 50 mm in length and 60 mm in width using a 5-axis MC. The mouthpiece is interchangeable to suit the machining purpose. Even rectangular or round-shaped workpieces can be held securely. Both Y-axis and X-axis workpieces are fixed in the center position by separate screw tightening operations. "Mr. Yamazoe says, "The unique structure of the machine, which has no internal bearing mechanism, prevents rattling even after long-term use. The clamping jig of the optional vise has elasticity to soften the impact when the machining head and other parts collide. The vise is assembled from multiple parts. The external size is 120mm (length) x 110mm (width) x 90mm (height). Photo taken on November 1, 2019, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

Yamashin Filter's hybrid filter (bottom right is an optional part)

Yamashin Filter's hybrid filter (bottom right is an optional part)

Yamashin Filter, a manufacturer of filters for construction machinery, has developed a "hybrid filter" that uses glass fiber and nanofiber as materialsto reduce environmental impact. The new filter has three times the longevity of the company's conventional products. It also reduces the amount of waste to one-third, thus reducing the negative impact on the environment. Atsuhiko Yamazaki, president of the company, is enthusiastic, "We want our customers to understand the value of this product and spread it as soon as possible."Mr. Yamazaki said, "Chinese construction equipment manufacturers are shifting from focusing on cost to focusing on quality. By expanding its market share in China, the company aims to increase its filter sales from the current 12.3 billion yen to 25 billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 2010. Photo taken on June 6, 2019, location unknown, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images

(1)Preparing for university entrance exams

(1)Preparing for university entrance exams

TOKYO, Japan - High school students in Ibaraki Prefecture attend an optional Saturday class taught by a teacher from a famous preparatory school for university entrance exams. The photo was taken July 3, 2002. (Kyodo)

Paralympics: Iran's Rahman sets world record in powerlifting

Paralympics: Iran's Rahman sets world record in powerlifting

Siamand Rahman of Iran celebrates after lifting an astonishing 310 kilograms, a world record, in an optional lift after winning the gold medal by lifting 305 kg, the previous world record, in the men's over 107 kg powerlifting for athletes with a lower limb or hip impairment at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Sept. 14, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Paralympics: Iran's Rahman sets world record in powerlifting

Paralympics: Iran's Rahman sets world record in powerlifting

Siamand Rahman of Iran poses for a photo after lifting an astonishing 305 kilograms, a world record, and winning the gold medal in the men's over 107 kg powerlifting for athletes with a lower limb or hip impairment at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Sept. 14, 2016. The 28-year-old Rahman, who weighs 169 kg, set another world record of 310 kg in an optional lift later that day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Iran's Rahman sets world record at 310kg in powerlifting

Iran's Rahman sets world record at 310kg in powerlifting

Iranian Siamand Rahman, who won the gold medal with a world record of 305 kilograms in the men's over 107 kilogram powerlifting for athletes with a lower limb or hip impairment, celebrates after marking a world record again at 310 kg in an optional lift at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics on Sept. 14, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Brother to sell fax machine that can scare off intruder

Brother to sell fax machine that can scare off intruder

NAGOYA, Japan - Brother Industries Ltd. said on Jan. 27 it will launch in February a fax machine and an optional infrared sensor (photo) that can be used to scare off intruders with an alarm. The sensor, which can be placed up to 40 meters away from the fax machine, can sense an approaching human or animal, and if it catches such a signal, it will automatically make a phone call in 30 seconds to numbers registered in the machine. (Kyodo)

Canon to launch digital cameras with direct-print capability

Canon to launch digital cameras with direct-print capability

TOKYO, Japan - Canon Inc. said Oct. 9 it will introduce in Japan in late October new 3X optical zoom compact digital cameras with direct-print capability. The 4-megapixel PowerShot S40 (in handout photo) and the 3.2-megapixel PowerShot S30 can ''realize effortless photo-quality image printing,'' when connected via cable to the optional BJ F890PD printer, a company spokesman said. The PowerShot S40 is priced at 99,800 yen, the PowerShot S30 89,800 yen and the BJ F890PD 64,800 yen.