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Sapporo Snow Festival

People visit Sapporo Snow Festival in the Hokkaido prefectural capital city in northern Japan on Feb. 4, 2023, with the event starting the same day after a two-year, coronavirus-induced hiatus.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

People visit Sapporo Snow Festival in the Hokkaido prefectural capital city in northern Japan on Feb. 4, 2023, with the event starting the same day after a two-year, coronavirus-induced hiatus.

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Sapporo Snow Festival

People visit Sapporo Snow Festival in the Hokkaido prefectural capital city in northern Japan on Feb. 4, 2023, with the event starting the same day after a two-year, coronavirus-induced hiatus.

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France ends systematic quarantine of people testing positive for COVID-19

STORY: France ends systematic quarantine of people testing positive for COVID-19 DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:00 LOCATION: Paris CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Parisian streets 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): DENIS, Resident 3. SOUDNBITE 2 (French): JEAN-BAPTISTE, Resident STORYLINE: The French government has relaxed health restrictions, citing a marked improvement in the coronavirus epidemic. From Feb. 1, people testing positive for COVID-19 will no longer need to be systematically quarantined. Asymptomatic contacts of cases will also no longer be required to be tested the day after being informed. In a press statement, the French Health Ministry said that the relaxation of restrictions was due to the very low circulation of the virus in France itself and abroad. France's approach is similar to that of other European countries. According to data, the number of infections did drop in one month, from an average of over 20,000 to less than 5,000 per day. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): DENIS, Resid

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Japan to downgrade COVID-19

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare holds a meeting of medical experts in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2023, as the government mulls reclassifying the novel coronavirus to put it in the same category as common infectious diseases such as seasonal influenza.

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Japan to downgrade COVID-19

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare holds a meeting of medical experts in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2023, as the government mulls reclassifying the novel coronavirus to put it in the same category as common infectious diseases such as seasonal influenza.

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Japan to downgrade COVID-19

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare holds a meeting of medical experts in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2023, as the government mulls reclassifying the novel coronavirus to put it in the same category as common infectious diseases such as seasonal influenza.

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Xinhua Headlines: China delivers acclaimed performance in fighting once-in-a-century pandemic

(230120) -- BEIJING, Jan. 20, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Dec. 27, 2022 shows a press conference held by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism. On Dec. 26, China renamed novel coronavirus pneumonia as novel coronavirus infection and decided to downgrade its level of COVID-19 management from the current Class A to a less strict Class B, starting from Jan. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

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Tokyo scene amid coronavirus pandemic

People wear face masks outdoors near Tokyo's Shibuya station on Jan. 20, 2023. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced same day plans to downgrade the legal status of COVID-19 to the equivalent of seasonal influenza in the spring.

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Tokyo scene amid coronavirus pandemic

People wear face masks outdoors near Tokyo's Shibuya station on Jan. 20, 2023. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced same day plans to downgrade the legal status of COVID-19 to the equivalent of seasonal influenza in the spring.

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Japan PM Kishida on gov't handling of COVID-19

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2023, following a ministerial meeting on the government's handling of the novel coronavirus.

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Japan PM Kishida on gov't handling of COVID-19

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2023, following a ministerial meeting on the government's handling of the novel coronavirus.

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Japan PM Kishida on gov't handling of COVID-19

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2023, following a ministerial meeting on the government's handling of the novel coronavirus.

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Japan PM Kishida

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) enters the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2023, wearing a face mask amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Japan PM Kishida

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida enters the premier's office in Tokyo on Jan. 20, 2023, wearing a face mask amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in front of JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital during the morning commuting hours of Jan. 20, 2023, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in front of JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital during the morning commuting hours of Jan. 20, 2023, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in front of JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital during the morning commuting hours of Jan. 20, 2023, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in front of JR Tokyo Station in the Japanese capital during the morning commuting hours of Jan. 20, 2023, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Beijing

People wearing face masks walk at a subway station in Beijing on Jan. 18, 2023, amid concerns over the novel coronavirus.

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Scene of Tokyo

People wearing face masks walk in Tokyo's Ginza area on Jan. 18, 2023, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Japan protests China's suspension of visa issuance to citizens

The Japanese government on Wednesday protested China's decision to suspend the issuance of visas to Japanese travelers and urged the country to repeal the measure that is seen as retaliation for Tokyo adopting tighter COVID-19 entry restrictions. "It is extremely regrettable that China is restricting issuing visas for reasons besides novel coronavirus countermeasures," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular news conference, adding Tokyo has protested through diplomatic channels. China stopped issuing new visas to Japanese and South Korean travelers Tuesday after it said it would respond to countries that introduced tighter coronavirus entry restrictions on visitors from China. Since late last year, Japan temporarily started tightening border controls on travelers from mainland China amid a surge of cases and fears that a new virus variant could emerge there.

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New Year lectures for imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (L) and other imperial family members enter the Matsu-no-Ma stateroom at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for the Imperial New Year's Lectures by scholars on Jan. 13, 2023, wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Pool photo)

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New Year lectures for imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and other imperial family members listen to a scholar's New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2023, wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Pool photo)

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New Year lectures for imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and other imperial family members listen to a scholar's New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2023, wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Pool photo)

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New Year lectures for imperial family

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako listen to a scholar's New Year lecture at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 13, 2023, wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Pool photo)

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China's anti-COVID drug Azvudine

Photo taken on Jan. 10, 2023, shows an assembly line for oral anti-COVID drug Azvudine at a factory of China Resources Double-Crane Pharmaceutical Co. in Beijing. The Chinese government unveiled the factory to the media amid rampant coronavirus infections in the country.

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China's anti-COVID drug Azvudine

Photo taken on Jan. 10, 2023, shows an assembly line for oral anti-COVID drug Azvudine at a factory of China Resources Double-Crane Pharmaceutical Co. in Beijing. The Chinese government unveiled the factory to the media amid rampant coronavirus infections in the country.

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XINHUA-PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2022-WORLD NEWS

(230110) -- BEIJING, Jan. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Pedestrians walk in front of a Times Square news ticker in New York, the United States, on May 12, 2022. The United States reached a milestone on May 12, 2022 as its novel coronavirus death toll crossed 1 million, according to a statement by the White House early the day. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

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Palestinian experts slam West for imposing travel restrictions against China

STORY: Palestinian experts slam West for imposing travel restrictions against China DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:40 LOCATION: GAZA, Palestine CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese tourists 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): TALAL OKAL, Political analyst in Gaza 3. various of Chinese tourists 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMMED HIJAZI, Political analyst in Gaza 5. shot of a street in Gaza 6. various of Chinese tourists STORYLINE: Palestinian experts have said entry restrictions targeting travellers from China by the U.S. and some European countries are not justified, adding that the move reveals their double standards. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): TALAL OKAL, Political analyst in Gaza "Simply put, these measures have nothing to do with curbing the coronavirus pandemic or the fight against the new virus strains, but rather it is a matter of distorting the image of China, and therefore it practices double standards that violate human rights when it comes to China. Therefore, these measures show the extent

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COVID-19 cases rampant in China

Coffins are lined up at the premises of a hospital in Beijing on Jan. 5, 2023, amid rampant COVID-19 cases in China following the recent easing of anti-coronavirus measures.

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Scene of Guangzhou

A departure lobby at an international airport in Guangzhou, southern China, is crowded with tourists wearing face masks on Dec. 31, 2022, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Shanghai

People wearing protective gear walk at a station in Shanghai on Dec. 31, 2022, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Beijing

People wearing face masks sit on benches at a station in Beijing on Dec. 31, 2022, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Wuhan amid COVID surge

Photo taken on Dec. 29, 2022, shows Wuhan's Huanan seafood wholesale market, which has been closed for about three years since the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus there. The Chinese government eased its strict antivirus measures earlier in the month.

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Wuhan amid COVID surge

Photo taken on Dec. 29, 2022, shows Wuhan's Huanan seafood wholesale market, which has been closed for about three years since the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus there. The Chinese government eased its strict antivirus measures earlier in the month.

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Wuhan amid COVID surge

Photo taken on Dec. 29, 2022, shows Wuhan's Huanan seafood wholesale market, which has been closed for about three years since the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus there. The Chinese government eased its strict antivirus measures earlier in the month.

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Xinhua Headlines: Top 10 China news stories of 2022

(221229) -- BEIJING, Dec. 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Dec. 27, 2022 shows a press conference held by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism. Top 10 China news stories of 2022 10. China adjusts COVID-19 response policies in science-based, targeted manner Putting people's lives and health first, China has been optimizing its COVID-19 response policies in a dynamic manner in the face of a constantly mutating novel coronavirus. On Nov. 10, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting, which discussed and arranged 20 measures to further optimize epidemic prevention and control work. On Dec. 7, China further adjusted its virus prevention and control policies with 10 new measures, shifting the policy focus from infection prevention to severe cases prevention. On Dec. 26, China renamed novel coronavirus pneumonia as novel coronavirus infection and decided to downgrade its level of COVID-19 management fr

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Scene of Beijing

People wearing face masks walk with their suitcases through a departure lobby of Beijing Capital International Airport on Dec. 27, 2022. China said the previous day it will reopen borders and abandon quarantine measures that have been in place to stem the spread of coronavirus infections on Jan. 8, in a shift away from its strict "zero-COVID" policy.

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Scene of Beijing

People wearing face masks walk through a departure lobby of Beijing Capital International Airport on Dec. 27, 2022. China said the previous day it will reopen borders and abandon quarantine measures that have been in place to stem the spread of coronavirus infections on Jan. 8, in a shift away from its strict "zero-COVID" policy.

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Scene of Beijing

People walk with their suitcases through a departure lobby of Beijing Capital International Airport on Dec. 27, 2022. China said the previous day it will reopen borders and abandon quarantine measures that have been in place to stem the spread of coronavirus infections on Jan. 8, in a shift away from its strict "zero-COVID" policy.

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Scene of Beijing

People wearing face masks use an escalator at a subway station during the morning commuting hours in Beijing on Dec. 27, 2022, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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Scene of Beijing

People wearing face masks walk during the morning commuting hours in Beijing on Dec. 27, 2022, amid the spread of coronavirus infections.

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TCM helps fight against COVID-19: expats living in China

STORY: TCM helps fight against COVID-19: expats living in China DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: MEDICINE SHOTLIST: 1. various of traditional Chinese medicine 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YULIA TEMELIDI, Russian student at Tsinghua University 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MUHAMMAD WASIM ASIM, Pakistani expat living in Shenzhen STORYLINE: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recognized by many for its unique effect on COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Some expats living in China have shared their coronavirus experience and spoken highly of the important role TCM has played in fighting the epidemic. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): YULIA TEMELIDI, Russian student at Tsinghua University "I think that TCM plays a really important role in fighting the virus. I stored a small health kit in my dormitory. This health kit helped me a lot when I had a headache or a stomachache or just a small fever. And during my recovery (from Omicron infection), it actually helped me a lot. So I saw th

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Ugandan Olympic athletes in Japan

NARITA, Japan, June 20 Kyodo - The first group of Ugandan athletes who arrived in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics prepares to leave Narita airport for host city Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, in the early hours of June 20, 2021. One person in the nine-member group tested positive for the coronavirus.

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Baseball: MLB Opening Day

ANAHEIM, United States, April 1 Kyodo - The Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox line up for the national anthem before their season-opening game on April 1, 2021, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, with some of them wearing face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Japan's fight against novel coronavirus

TOKYO, Japan, March 7 Kyodo - People wearing masks to protect against the novel coronavirus cross the famous scramble intersection near Shibuya Station in Tokyo on March 7, 2021.

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Japan PM Suga at parliament

TOKYO, Japan, March 4 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks at a House of Councillors Budget Committee session in Tokyo on March 4, 2021, wearing a mask amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

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1st batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Japan

NARITA, Japan, Feb. 12 Kyodo - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Feb. 12, 2021, shows cargo being unloaded at Narita airport near Tokyo from an airplane that transported from Brussels the first batch to arrive in Japan of the coronavirus vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.

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Japan's fight against novel coronavirus

TOKYO, Japan, March 7 Kyodo - People wearing masks to protect against the novel coronavirus cross the famous scramble intersection near Shibuya Station in Tokyo on March 7, 2021.