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Foreign expats enjoy colorful nightlife in Hefei, China

STORY: Foreign expats enjoy colorful nightlife in Hefei, China SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: May 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: HEFEI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Hefei, east China's Anhui Province 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HOLGER OPFER, Head of (EA) Powertrain and Energysystems Development, Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Co., Ltd. 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): OSKAR OPFER, German student STORYLINE: Foreign expats enjoy the colorful nightlife in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, as they said the city has become more international and foreigner-friendly. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HOLGER OPFER, Head of (EA) Powertrain and Energysystems Development, Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Co., Ltd. "At the beginning when we came here, there were nearly no international restaurants. And now we are really happy that we have a German food restaurant like the Landgraf. So you can get all kinds of German dishes and you get a very good beer. And now in the last three years, it developed very rap

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Kobe Port Tower to reopen after repair work

Photo taken on April 23, 2024, shows Kobe Port Tower in the western Japan city ahead of its reopening to the public on April 26, following the completion of nearly three years of work to make the 108-meter facility earthquake-resistant.

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Health institute warns of rising overweight in Italy

STORY: Health institute warns of rising overweight in Italy SHOOTING TIME: March 5, 2024 DATELINE: March 6, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:05 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Rome STORYLINE: The percentage of the overweight population is slowly on the rise in Italy, especially in the poorer southern region, according to the latest data released Monday by the country's High Institute for Health (ISS). Italy has long been among the healthiest countries in the world, with a life expectancy of 84.2 years in 2023, one of the best rates in the world, according to Worldometers. However, the ISS data showed that 43 percent of the country's population was "overweight" or "obese" between 2021 and 2022. The majority of those with weight issues in Italy are classified as "overweight," which is defined by the World Health Organization as those with a "condition of excessive fat deposits." That category accounts for 32.6 percent of the population, nearly one person in three. Accordi

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U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas impeached by Republican-held House

STORY: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas impeached by Republican-held House SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 13, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of U.S. House of Representatives voting on the bill 2. various of exterior of the U.S. Capitol STORYLINE: One week after a failed impeachment vote, the Republican-held U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, making him the first cabinet member to be impeached in nearly 150 years. On Feb. 6, Mayorkas narrowly survived an impeachment vote in the House, with a vote tally of 214 to 216. In the latest development, the lower chamber voted 214 to 213, with three Republicans defecting from their party to join Democrats to vote against the impeachment against the Biden administration's top border official. Mayorkas was impeached for "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" in enforcing border policy and for br

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A Brighter Summer Day

'Be Brave! Never be scared to love, so that you can be a good person.' Yellow Yellow and Menu Ma (right) have been together for nearly three years. They started to chat on a lesbian app and had a lot in common, especially theatre. It took a while for Menu's mother to accept the fact that her daughter was a lesbian as Menu's brother is also gay. Her first reaction when Menu came out was to ask why her kids were monsters. Since then she has come a long way and she really likes Yellow now. Traditionally, kids in Taiwan will express their feelings with their mothers, not their father who still holds the role of the strict family figure. As a result, a lot of young adults only come out to their mother. A gay friend of Menu comes to the family house often and her dad, thinking he’s straight, hopes that eventually he will marry his daughter. Photo by Su Cassiano/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin sketches from life in Houhai of Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 30, 2023. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing paintings and pu

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin paints with traditional pigment at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A traditional Beijing painting by Yang Xin is displayed during an exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2017. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,0

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin sifts raw minerals for traditional pigment making at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 tr

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin paints with traditional pigment at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin makes pigment with colourful minerals at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Be

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin shows his 7-meter-long painting at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin grinds cinnabar to make pigment at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin paints with traditional pigment at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing

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(MASTER OF CRAFTS)CHINA-BEIJING-TRADITIONAL BEIJING PAINTINGS-PIGMENT MAKING-INHERITOR (CN)

(240107) -- BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Yang Xin paints with traditional pigment at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 4, 2024. Yang Xin, 62, is a noted artist of traditional Beijing paintings. His family have been involved in pigment making business since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Fascinated by paintings since his childhood, Yang acquired the craft of pigment making for traditional Beijing paintings from his mother and became the fifth generation inheritor of this art. This craft, which extracts pigment from natural materials such as minerals, soil and plants, was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of Chaoyang District of Beijing in 2019. A graduate from the College of Fine Arts & Design of the Hebei Normal University, Yang set out three decades ago to study the folk history of Beijing, and to draw paintings on the historical sites, folk customs and time-honored brands in the city with the pigment he made. Over the years, Yang has created nearly 10,000 traditional Beijing

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China Brand Expo of Healthcare Ingredients concludes in U.S. Las Vegas

STORY: China Brand Expo of Healthcare Ingredients concludes in U.S. Las Vegas DATELINE: Oct. 29, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: LAS VEGAS, U.S. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the fourth China Brand Expo of Healthcare Ingredients STORYLINE: The fourth China Brand Expo of Healthcare Ingredients concluded Thursday in the U.S. city of Las Vegas amid applauds and hails from business insiders from all around the world. The two-day event organized by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE) was co-located with SupplySide West 2023, the annual flagship show in the nutraceutical manufacturing industry of North American market, which concluded Friday. China Brand selected nearly 100 elite enterprises from 22 provincial regions of China, which showcase various ingredients and solutions for dietary supplements, functional food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and personal care, among others. The trade show, which had been suspended for three years due to

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Egypt issues 3.5-bln-yuan sustainable panda bonds

STORY: Egypt issues 3.5-bln-yuan sustainable panda bonds DATELINE: Oct. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:45 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egypt's Finance Ministry 2. various of the Central Bank of Egypt 3. various of Egyptian banknotes STORYLINE: Egypt issued on Monday sustainable panda bonds in the Chinese financial market in the amount of about 3.5 billion yuan (nearly 479 million U.S. dollars). In a statement, Egyptian Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said the issuance has a maturity of three years with a coupon rate of 3.5 percent. He explained that the issuance is backed by a credit guarantee provided by international development banks with high credit ratings, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the African Development Bank. Maait noted that Egypt is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to issue sustainable panda bonds, adding that it succeeded in attracting many Chinese investors. The minister said the issuance serves as a new portal for achievin

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China's "Jiangnan" treasures on display at U.S. museum exhibition

STORY: China's "Jiangnan" treasures on display at U.S. museum exhibition DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:43 LOCATION: CLEVELAND, the United States CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping attending the event STORYLINE: Grains of carbonized rice from about 10,000 years ago, together with over 200 other rare items, were exhibited in a show on treasures from China's Yangtze River Delta region at the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) in the U.S. state of Ohio. "This is the product of nearly a decade of research. It is the outcome of collaboration among the museums on three continents," said William Griswold, director and president of the CMA, at an opening ceremony held on Thursday for "China's Southern Paradise: Treasures from the Lower Yangzi Delta." The exhibition, which runs from Sept. 10, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024, represents a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for Americans to see some of the "absolutely extraordinary" artworks from China, said Griswold.

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Smart Factory in Huzhou

HUZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17, 2023 - At the cosmetics intelligent storage base, goods "automatically walk through" in an automated three-dimensional warehouse, July 17, 2023, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. In recent years, the enterprise has applied new information technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, intelligent warehousing, and 5G to build a new intelligent, digital, and automated smart factory. The high-end and differentiated wipes are exported to nearly 80 countries and regions such as the United States, Europe and Japan.

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SAUDI ARABIA-RIYADH-IRAN-EMBASSY-REOPENING

(230606) -- RIYADH, June 6, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli (Front) and Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs Ali Al-Yousef (C) attend a ribbon cutting at the opening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 6, 2023. Iran reopened on Tuesday its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven years of closure, nearly three months after the two countries agreed to restore bilateral ties under a Chinese-brokered deal. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

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SAUDI ARABIA-RIYADH-IRAN-EMBASSY-REOPENING

(230606) -- RIYADH, June 6, 2023 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian national flag is hoisted at the opening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 6, 2023. Iran reopened on Tuesday its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven years of closure, nearly three months after the two countries agreed to restore bilateral ties under a Chinese-brokered deal. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

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SAUDI ARABIA-RIYADH-IRAN-EMBASSY-REOPENING

(230606) -- RIYADH, June 6, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli (1st R) speaks at the opening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 6, 2023. Iran reopened on Tuesday its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven years of closure, nearly three months after the two countries agreed to restore bilateral ties under a Chinese-brokered deal. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

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SAUDI ARABIA-RIYADH-IRAN-EMBASSY-REOPENING

(230606) -- RIYADH, June 6, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli addresses the opening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 6, 2023. Iran reopened on Tuesday its embassy in Saudi Arabia after seven years of closure, nearly three months after the two countries agreed to restore bilateral ties under a Chinese-brokered deal. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

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Fed's aggressive actions contribute to recent U.S. bank failures: experts

STORY: Fed's aggressive actions contribute to recent U.S. bank failures: experts DATELINE: May 9, 2023 LENGTH: 0:02:30 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S./London CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference at the U.S. Federal Reserve 2. various of branches of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHARLES READ, Scholar in economics and history at the University of Cambridge 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BRENDAN AHERN, Chief Investment Officer of U.S.-based asset management firm Krane Funds Advisors STORYLINE: The U.S. Federal Reserve has implemented the 10th interest rate hike in about a year. The Fed's historical tightening, which has pushed the central bank's benchmark rate to its highest in nearly 16 years, has resulted in some "side effects," notably in the banking industry. Many economists and analysts believe that the Fed's aggressive actions played a role in the recent failures of three U.S. banks and that more regulations are needed to prevent t

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Half of unmarried people under 30 in Japan do not want children: survey

STORY: Half of unmarried people under 30 in Japan do not want children: survey DATELINE: April 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:56 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views of Tokyo 2. various of children STORYLINE: According to a recent survey by a pharmaceutical firm, nearly half of unmarried people under 30 in Japan said they do not want children, citing reasons including economic concerns and the burden of childbirth and parenting. Of the 400 respondents between 18 to 29 years old, 49.4 percent said they are not interested in having children. It's the highest percentage in any of the last three annual pregnancy white paper surveys conducted by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. By gender, 53.0 percent of men and 45.6 percent of women have no interest in becoming parents, according to the online survey conducted in January. The government's data showed the number of babies born in Japan in 2022 slipped to a record low of under 800,000 for the first time since records began to be

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India's annual exports cross 750 bln USD: minister

STORY: India's annual exports cross 750 bln USD: minister DATELINE: March 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. shots of India gate 2. shots of government buildings 3. shots of the wholesale market area 4. shots of export containers STORYLINE: India's overall exports crossed an all-time high of 750 billion U.S. dollars in the current financial year 2022-23, said the Federal Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday. According to the minister, India's overall exports have grown by nearly 250 billion dollars during the past three years. "The exports have risen from 500 billion dollars in 2020-2021 to this figure in extremely challenging times," Goyal said at the annual session of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. India aims to become a self-reliant nation, and "making India self-reliant is not about closing doors but about opening them wider," he added. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

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"Charm of China" performance held in Bulgaria

STORY: "Charm of China" performance held in Bulgaria DATELINE: March 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:25 LOCATION: Sofia CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the "Charm of China" performance STORYLINE: A music and dance performance titled "Charm of China" was held in the northeastern Bulgarian town of Targovishte on Thursday. The nearly two-hour event was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the regional association "Friends of China." It was attended by some 200 spectators who enjoyed Chinese songs and dances performed by local children and Chinese students studying in Bulgaria. The climax of the event came when the mixed choir "Rodna Pesen" from Targovishte, which was established 125 years ago, performed three Chinese songs from its repertoire, and together with a Chinese soloist sang a popular Bulgarian song. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sofia. (XHTV)

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St. Petersburg resumes direct flights to Beijing

STORY: St. Petersburg resumes direct flights to Beijing DATELINE: Feb. 20, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:54 LOCATION: ST. PETERSBURG, Russia CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg (Source: TASS) 2. various of airplanes STORYLINE: An Airbus 330 aircraft operated by China's Hainan Airlines flew from Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg to Beijing Capital Airport on Sunday, marking the resumption of direct flights from Russia's second-largest city to the Chinese capital after nearly three years of halt. According to the current plan, Hainan Airlines will operate the flights once a week on Sundays. The Civil Aviation Administration of China announced that the country had resumed regular passenger flights with 58 countries after it removed certain COVID-19 restrictions on international passenger flights from Jan. 8, 2023. It said that the number of countries handling flights to or from China and airlines operating these flights resumed to 64 percent and 80 percent, respectively, of

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Beijing further opens air travel

STORY: Beijing further opens air travel DATELINE: Jan. 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:18 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the airport 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Traveler 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): Traveler 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): Traveler 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG HUI, Business manager, Beijing Daxing International Airport 6. various of the airport STORYLINE: The Beijing Daxing International Airport resumed the operation of international passenger flights on Tuesday after China continuously optimized its COVID-19 response. From March 14, 2020, the airport's international flights had been transferred to the Beijing Capital International Airport amid the COVID-19 epidemic. Also on Tuesday, the Daxing airport resumed the international flight transit service and the 144-hour transit visa-free policy in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): Traveler "I'm really thrilled at this moment since I haven't been back to Hong Kong for nearly three years." SOUNDBITE 2 (Chines

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High-speed railway connecting Hong Kong, mainland resumes services

STORY: High-speed railway connecting Hong Kong, mainland resumes services DATELINE: Jan. 15, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:11 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU/HONG KONG, China CATEGORY: TRANSPORTATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of the high-speed rail station 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG, Passenger 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHONG, Passenger STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): HUANG XITIAN, Xinhua correspondent "I'm here at the Hong Kong West Kowloon high-speed rail station. After nearly three years of service suspension, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link restarted operation today." The high-speed railway connecting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Chinese mainland resumed operation Sunday after nearly three years of service suspension. At 7:03 a.m. local time, a high-speed train left the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station for Shenzhen, the first of such trains since the pandemic disrupted the cross-border bullet train services. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG, Passenger "I'm rea

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers are greeted with gift bags at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in south China's Hong Kong, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Guests attend a ceremony to mark the resumption of operation of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in south China's Hong Kong, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers are greeted with gift bags at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in south China's Hong Kong, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Crew members of the train G5607 bound for Hong Kong welcome passengers at the Shenzhen North Railway Station in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers get their tickets checked at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in south China's Hong Kong, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- The train G5607 bound for Hong Kong is pictured at the Shenzhen North Railway Station in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers pose for photos aboard the train G5607 bound for Hong Kong at the Shenzhen North Railway Station in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

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CHINA-GUANGZHOU-SHENZHEN-HONG KONG-EXPRESS RAIL LINK-RESUMPTION (CN)

(230115) -- SHENZHEN, Jan. 15, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Passengers get their tickets checked at the Shenzhen North Railway Station in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 15, 2023. After nearly three years of service suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link resumed operation Sunday, with an average of 38.5 pairs of high-speed trains on a daily basis running from stations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station at the initial stage. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

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Customs clearance restored for drivers at Hekou Port on China-Vietnam border

STORY: Customs clearance restored for drivers at Hekou Port on China-Vietnam border DATELINE: Jan. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:40 LOCATION: KUNMING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Hekou Port 2. various of trucks passing through the port 3. SOUNDBITE (Vietnamese): Vietnamese driver STORYLINE: Customs clearance has been restored for drivers at the Hekou Port on the China-Vietnam border. The first batch of 32 inbound vehicles went through the customs and drove to an international goods yard in Hekou on Thursday. SOUNDBITE (Vietnamese): Vietnamese driver "This is the first time that Vietnamese drivers have come to China's Hekou Port in nearly three years. The entry formalities were handled smoothly, making it convenient for Vietnamese drivers and cargoes to clear the customs." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kunming, China. (XHTV)

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Holiday travel resumes in Zimbabwe

STORY: Holiday travel resumes in Zimbabwe DATELINE: Dec. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:04:21 LOCATION: Harare CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various buses, travelers, rank marshals loading bags on bus rooftop carriers, grocery vendors, and passengers 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Shona): FELISTAS MUSENGEZI, Passenger 3. various of a passenger holding a chicken, buses, and travelers 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Shona): HASHEM KAZEMBE, Passenger 5. various of people at the bus terminus 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Shona): FUNLESLEY KAMBEYA, Bus conductor 7. various of a vendor holding foreign currency money 8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Shona) PATIENCE MOYANA, Vendor 9. various roadside boutiques with people shopping for Christmas clothing 10. SOUNDBITE 5 (Shona): LOICE GAZA, Customer 11. various of a vendor counting foreign currency money STORYLINE: Nearly three years into the pandemic, the holiday travel rush has resumed in Zimbabwe this Christmas season as many people go back to their home in rural areas to celebrate the holiday. At the Mbare Musika long-dist

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The return of milu deer in China

STORY: The return of milu deer in China DATELINE: Dec. 18, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:39 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of milu deer STORYLINE: The milu deer is believed to have originated 2-3 million years ago, and is a species endemic to China. Overhunting and habitat loss drove the wetland deer to extinction in the wild in the early 20th century. Only a few deer that were transported to Europe survived the extirpation. In 1985, 22 milu deer were brought back to China to rebuild its population after joint efforts. In recent years, China has established three reserves in Beijing, Hubei and Jiangsu to enlarge the milu deer population. After many years of efforts, the population of artificially bred milu deer has kept increasing. Species reconstruction in the wild has also been conducted. Now the milu deer is under first-class national protection in China. Currently, its population has reached nearly 10,000 in the country. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijin

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Demolition of Fukushima nuke reactor cover to begin

TOKYO, Japan - The cover of a building that houses the crippled No. 1 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co., shown in this file photo taken in March 2012, is to be demolished from Oct. 22, 2014, in the first step toward complete removal of the rubble there, a process requiring nearly three years.

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New Lima residence of Japanese ambassador opened to press

LIMA, Peru - Photo shows the new residence of Japanese ambassador to Peru which was partially opened to the press April 7, nearly three years after a four-month hostage crisis at the former residence ended.

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China-Taiwan talks

Li Yafei, deputy secretary general of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, is surrounded by journalists following a meeting with a delegation from Taiwan's Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF), in Beijing April 23. The Taiwan delegation, headed by SEF Deputy Secretary General Jan Jyh-horng, is on a three-day visit to Beijing July 22-24 for bilateral talks with China, the first in nearly two years.

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Xi's command in China's battle against COVID-19

STORY: Xi's command in China's battle against COVID-19 DATELINE: Dec. 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:06:02 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY/ECONOMY/HEALTH STORYLINE: The world has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly three years. China, the most populous country in the world, encountered its hardest major public health emergency since the founding of New China in 1949. A war of 1.4 billion people was declared to fight the virus. And commanding the war is President Xi Jinping. Xi's command in China's battle against COVID-19 PEOPLE FIRST, LIFE FIRST Each and every life counts. Ever since the epidemic began, Xi has put the health and safety of the Chinese people before everything else. It was early 2020 in Shiyan, Hubei, a province hit hard by the pandemic. A patient was rushed to hospital for COVID-19, his conditions serious. And he was 87 years old, an age vulnerable to the virus. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LUO JIE, National lawmaker from Hubei, President of Taihe Hospital in Shiyan "For a c

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This holiday season, U.S. poor buckle under inflation: NYT

STORY: This holiday season, U.S. poor buckle under inflation: NYT DATELINE: Nov. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): PAN LIJUN, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of screenshots of New York Times report 3. various of street views in Manhattan during holiday season STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): PAN LIJUN, Xinhua correspondent "In Boston, Massachusetts, wealthy people check in at the Langham Hotel, and the 135-U.S. dollar Thanksgiving brunch per adult at its in-house restaurant sold out weeks ago. Meanwhile, many families line up in front of a local charity around 4:30 a.m. for its free pantry and turkeys. This is four hours earlier than its opening time. 'The contrast illustrates a divide that is rippling through America's topsy-turvy economy nearly three years into the pandemic,' said The New York Times on Nov. 25. Many well-off consumers are still flush with savings and faring well financially, bolstering luxury brands and keeping some high-e

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Libyan PM says resumption of oil production to improve economy

STORY: Libyan PM says resumption of oil production to improve economy DATELINE: July 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:16 LOCATION: Tripoli CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference STORYLINE: The recent resumption of oil production and exports would improve the country's economy, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah said on Wednesday. Oil exports resumed on Wednesday as an oil tanker loaded 600,000 barrels of crude oil from Libya, the government's spokesman Mohamed Hamuda quoted Dbeibah as saying at a press conference, adding that the production would increase daily. The state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Friday announced the reopening of the country's oil fields and ports after nearly three months of closure by protesters who demanded Dbeibah hand over power to the government appointed by the parliament in March. Oil and gas constitute a major source of Libya's revenue. However, the sector has suffered over the past years from armed conflict and closures of oil fields and po

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UN chief calls for action to help internally displaced persons

STORY: UN chief calls for action to help internally displaced persons DATELINE: June 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:42 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: SOCIETY/POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE (English): Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General STORYLINE: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday launched an action agenda to galvanize efforts to help internally displaced persons. Guterres made the remarks in a video message for the launch of the action agenda on internal displacement. SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General "Our world is facing a crisis of internal displacement. Record high numbers of people around the world have been displaced within their countries by tragedies such as conflict, disasters and the climate crisis. Many have been uprooted for years, even decades, and often multiple times. Others have been forced to flee more recently. In just three months, the war in Ukraine drove 13 million people out of their homes and communities, nearly two-thirds of whom remain in

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GLOBALink | China achieves notable progress in reducing air pollution: FM spokesperson

In response to a recent study by the University of Chicago, which says China has reduced air pollution in seven years nearly as much as the U.S. did in three decades, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it attests to notable progress China has achieved in reducing air pollution at home. Produced by Xinhua Global Service

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Iraqi businessman confident in China's economy despite COVID-19 resurgence

STORY: Iraqi businessman confident in China's economy despite COVID-19 resurgence DATELINE: June 3, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:09 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: SOUNDBITE (English): AIAD SH. RSMI AL-ALKAMACHI, An owner of Taiba Shawarma Restaurant STORYLINE: Iraqi businessman Aiad Sh. Rsmi Al-Alkamachi has a trading company and co-owns three restaurants in China. Having been living in China for nearly 15 years, he says he is confident about China's economy and fully supports the country's dynamic zero-COVID approach as "the policy is for the people." SOUNDBITE (English): AIAD SH. RSMI AL-ALKAMACHI, An owner of Taiba Shawarma Restaurant "We have three restaurants. I have also agreed with the rules that to stop dining at the restaurant for a while. Because the restaurant is kind of nice environment that spread the virus between people. We should follow the policy and follow the rules. The rules are for us, not against us. Human health is more important than money. So I know the business in C