Myanmar celebrates traditional Thingyan water festival

STORY: Myanmar celebrates traditional Thingyan water festival SHOOTING TIME: April 14, 2024 DATELINE: April 15, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:18 LOCATION: YANGON, Myanmar CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Thingyan water festival celebrations in Yangon STORYLINE: Myanmar's vibrant Thingyan water festival continued into its second day on Sunday, as people across the Southeast Asian country immersed themselves in the joyous festivities. The time-honored tradition of splashing each other with water represents a symbolic cleansing of past wrongs and a fresh beginning for the upcoming year. Throughout the country, lively dance performances contribute to the festive atmosphere. This year's Thingyan water festival will run for four days until Tuesday. The Myanmar New Year falls on Wednesday. In Myanmar, the Thingyan water festival holds immense cultural significance, standing as the most famous celebration among the 12 monthly seasonal festivals observed throughout the year. Xinhua News Agency corres

Anti-polio campaign launched in Afghanistan

STORY: Anti-polio campaign launched in Afghanistan DATELINE: Sept. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:08 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of an anti-polio campaign in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health on Monday launched a nationwide anti-polio campaign in the war-ravaged country. During the four-day campaign, 11 million children under five will receive doses of the anti-polio vaccine for immunization as part of the country's efforts to eradicate the crippling disease among children, it said in a press release. In addition to administering anti-polio vaccines, the children will also take vitamin A supplements during the campaign, said the ministry. The campaign was initiated after five polio cases have been reported so far this year in Afghanistan. In 2022, two polio cases were reported. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two remaining polio-endemic countries in the world. Xinhua News Agency corres

Russian authorities confirm Wagner chief Prigozhin's death in plane crash

STORY: Russian authorities confirm Wagner chief Prigozhin's death in plane crash DATELINE: Aug. 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:54 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. pic of plane crash site (Source: Investigative Committee of Russia) 2. Voice of SVETLANA PETRENKO, Head of Media Relations Directorate of Investigative Committee of Russia (Source: Investigative Committee of Russia) 3. various file footage of Wagner Group STORYLINE: Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed on Sunday Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's death in a plane crash in the Tver Region near Moscow. The committee added that the identities of all 10 people killed in the plane crash correspond to the manifest of the flight. Voice of SVETLANA PETRENKO, Head of Media Relations Directorate of Investigative Committee of Russia "As part of the investigation into the plane crash in the Tver Region, molecular genetic examinations have been completed. Based on their results, the identities of all 10 victims have been established, they corres

Chinese culture courses launched in Myanmar's Yangon

STORY: Chinese culture courses launched in Myanmar's Yangon DATELINE: March 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:04:09 LOCATION: YANGON, Myanmar CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the launching ceremony of Chinese culture courses STORYLINE: The China Cultural Center in Yangon on Friday launched three summer training courses on Chinese culture for Myanmar students to promote cultural exchanges between China and Myanmar. The summer training courses on Chinese calligraphy, Chinese-style flower arrangement and Yunnan cuisine cooking will be conducted at the center from March 28 to May 23. Speaking at the launching of the training courses, Xu Ling, who is in charge of the China Cultural Center in Yangon, said that the training courses are offered to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries and enrich the summer cultural life of Myanmar students. Xu added that she hopes the training courses will help the participating students experience the profoundness of Chinese culture. Xinhua News Agency corres

A visit to Italian dessert chef's culinary class in China

STORY: A visit to Italian dessert chef's culinary class in China DATELINE: March 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:44 LOCATION: WENZHOU, China CATEGORY: CULTURE/ENTERTAINMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Viviana making Coffee 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): VIVIANA, Instructor, Espresso Academy Italia in Wenzhou 3. various of Viviana giving lessons STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE (Chinese): VIVIANA, Instructor, Espresso Academy Italia in Wenzhou "Hello, everyone. My name is Viviana. I'm from Italy. I have been living in Wenzhou for five years. I'm currently working as an instructor at Espresso Academy Italia." SOUNDBITE (Chinese): VIVIANA, Instructor, Espresso Academy Italia in Wenzhou "Hello. Hello. Today, we'll learn how to make a very important and very classic Italian dessert. It's Tiramisu. Tiramisu, can you say it? Tiramisu. Have you ever made Tiramisu before? No. Ok, let's do it today. Tiramisu, in Italian, means 'take me away with you.' We take with us not only the good flavor but also love and happiness." Xinhua News Agency corres

Chinese rescuers continue looking for quake survivors in Hatay, Türkiye

STORY: Chinese rescuers continue looking for quake survivors in Hatay, Türkiye DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:47 LOCATION: ANTAKYA, Türkiye CATEGORY: OTHERS SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): WANG FENG, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of the rescue work STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): WANG FENG, Xinhua correspondent "Chinese search and rescue team continues digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings in hope to find quake survivors in Türkiye's Hatay province. The 82-member team rescued a total of four trapped people under the ruins of buildings in the devastated Antakya district. They have worked on 49 collapsed buildings in the district where most of the buildings were ruined. And many people were trapped under the rubble." The 82-member Chinese rescue team arrived in Türkiye on Wednesday to join earthquake relief efforts in the country. Members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team and other Chinese civil relief squads are also in Türkiye to join the international rescue work. Xinhua News Agency corres

More intelligent bullet trains put into use ahead of Spring Festival travel rush

STORY: More intelligent bullet trains put into use ahead of Spring Festival travel rush DATELINE: Jan. 5, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:52 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the intelligent Fuxing bullet trains STORYLINE: China Railway Guangzhou Group Co., Ltd. has equipped with some intelligent Fuxing bullet trains to better prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush, also known as Chunyun. The 40-day travel season will begin on Saturday. Many Chinese people will travel to reunite with their families for the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 22 this year. The new generation of Fuxing high-speed trains is filled with intelligent and user-friendly designs. It's equipped with technologies and services including intelligent data analysis, a wireless network based on 5G technology, and energy-efficient air conditioning units. The trains are expected to provide more convenient facilities and more comfortable services for their passengers. Xinhua News Agency corres

(SP)ITALY-MILAN-FOOTBALL-SERIE A-AC MILAN VS INTER

(SP)ITALY-MILAN-FOOTBALL-SERIE A-AC MILAN VS INTER

(220904) -- MILAN, Sept. 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Sandro Tonali (R) of AC Milan vies with Joaquin Corres (L) of Inter Milan during a Serie A football match between AC Milan and Inter Milan in Milan, Italy, Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Augusto Casasoli/Xinhua)

Indian gov't issues advisory on hand, foot and mouth disease

STORY: Indian gov't issues advisory on hand, foot and mouth disease DATELINE: Aug. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:33 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of kids 3. various of hospital area STORYLINE: The Indian government has issued an advisory to states on hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), commonly known as tomato flu, officials said Wednesday. The advisory was issued by the federal health ministry on Tuesday evening after over 100 cases of the disease were reported from four states, namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Haryana. According to the WHO, HFMD is mild and self-limiting, with common symptoms including fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and buttocks. However, more severe symptoms such as meningitis, encephalitis and polio-like paralysis may occur. Health experts say the infectious disease occurs most often in children, but can also occur in adolescents and occasionally in adults. Xinhua News Agency corres

China's Hainan Airlines launches Beijing-Belgrade flights

STORY: China's Hainan Airlines launches Beijing-Belgrade flights DATELINE: July 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:52 LOCATION: Belgrade CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of the welcome ceremonySOUNDBITE (Serbian): ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, Serbian President STORYLINE: A welcome ceremony for the opening of direct flights between Beijing and Belgrade was held Saturday at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the direct flights operated by the Hainan Airlines help bring Serbia closer to China. SOUNDBITE (Serbian): ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, Serbian President "This is the first direct flight between China and Serbia, without any other stops. In the beginning, we will be able to travel to China once a week, and from September, twice a week. No other country in our region has such convenience. What makes this result even more important is that we will be able to attract even more tourists and businessmen from China, which will bring China even closer to Serbia." Xinhua News Agency corres

Tunisia welcomes 1st cruise ship with tourists since COVID-19 outbreak

STORY: Tunisia welcomes 1st cruise ship with tourists since COVID-19 outbreak DATELINE: March 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: Tunis CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of cruise ship docking at La Goulette port 2. various of Tunisian welcoming foreign tourists STORYLINE: A cruise ship from Europe docked at the port of La Goulette in Tunis, Tunisia on Wednesday and hundreds of foreign tourists disembarked for sightseeing in Tunisia. It is the first foreign cruise ship to dock in Tunisia since the outbreak of COVID-19. The Tunisian Tourism Ministry announced in a statement in early March that it would strengthen safety and hygiene management to provide a good environment for tourists. The ministry said that the tourism industry in Tunisia will gradually recover from the impact of COVID-19 in 2022. More than 40 cruise ships are planned to dock at Tunisian ports this year, bringing a large number of foreign tourists to Tunisia and contributing to local economic development. Xinhua News Agency corres

Whooper swans fly back to Siberia after wintering in China

STORY: Whooper swans fly back to Siberia after wintering in China DATELINE: March 8, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:58 LOCATION: RONGCHENG, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of swans STORYLINE: Migratory swans began to fly back to the Siberia region after wintering in the nature reserve for swans in Rongcheng City, east China's Shandong Province. Every year from November to March of the following year, these whooper swans fly from Siberia to Rongcheng. In order to protect swans, Rongcheng City has set up two swan managerial stations in the nature reserve. And Rongcheng's swan protection and management model based on community participation has formed an urban ecology in which people and nature harmoniously coexist. Swans are listed as a national second-level protected animal in China and a globally vulnerable species. There are three main migration routes for Siberian swans flying to China, and Rongcheng is considered as one of the favorable destinations for swans. Xinhua News Agency corres