ChineseToday | Captain and his ferry of hopes in SW China

ChineseToday | Captain and his ferry of hopes in SW China

(240718) -- CHONGQING, July 18, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Qin Dayi helps a senior farmer carry his vegetables at Xishan Wharf in Zhongxian County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 11, 2024. "Yu Zhong Ke 2180" ferry remains the last "water bus" running between Yangdu and Xishan wharfs in Zhongxian County of Chongqing. Every day at 6: 30 a.m., the ferry departs on time carrying farmers with baskets of farm produce to urban area to start their business. Qin Dayi, the 45-year-old captain of the ferry, has sailed on the river for over a decade. The ferry offers a journey essential to many, though it was once on the verge of vanishing. In 2016, a new expressway reduced the travel time by bus to just 50 minutes, compared to the two-hour boat journey. Most residents switched to bus travel, but many farmers still preferred the boat, which accommodated their bulky baskets and live animals. The fare is also much cheaper. With the decline in passenger numbers, the fleet of ferries dwindled unt

Indian gov't says 40 mln people in country haven't taken even single dose of COVID-19 vaccine

STORY: Indian gov't says 40 mln people in country haven't taken even single dose of COVID-19 vaccine DATELINE: July 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of India Gate 2. various of gov't buildings 3. various of people wearing masks 4. various of COVID-19 vaccination center 5. various of people taking vaccine 6. various of traffic STORYLINE: The Indian government has stated an estimated 40 million eligible beneficiaries in the country have not taken even a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The statement was made by junior federal health minister Bharati Pravin Pawar in the lower house of the Indian parliament (locally called Lok Sabha) on Friday. Pawar said in a written reply to the parliament that as on Monday, "an estimated 4 crore (40 million) eligible beneficiaries have not taken even a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine." The minister said a total of 926,172,661 beneficiaries (87.4 percent) had received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine unt