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70-708: On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughan Merrick and William H. Keating founded the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts . The opening was chronicled by The Literary Chronicle for the Year 1824 : With a view further to develop the resources of the union, increase the national independence, call forth the ingenuity and industry of the people, and thereby increase

140-724: A $ 10 million multiroom exhibit on neuroscience, but also a conference center, classroom space, and additional room for traveling exhibitions. The most recognizable part of the Franklin Institute's Science Center is the Franklin Institute Science Museum . In the spirit of inquiry and discovery embodied by Benjamin Franklin, the mission of the Franklin Institute Science Museum serves to inspire an understanding of and passion for science and technology learning. Among other exhibits,

210-437: A part of China's media offensive, with Xinhua having signed content sharing agreements with many news agencies around the world. He noted that "unlike with, say, a television station that a viewer has to actively turn on, and probably knows the channel, most print or online readers do not check the bylines of news articles—making it easier for Xinhua copy to slip through to readers." He also noted: "In developing countries, Xinhua

280-782: A party hosted by the museum, a partygoer with his companions slipped into a closed-off exhibit of ten terracotta warriors on loan from China . After his companions left, the partygoer broke off and stole a thumb from one of the warriors. Law enforcement agents later recovered the stolen thumb. The vandalized cavalryman is valued at US$ 4.5 million, and is considered a "priceless part of China's cultural heritage". The vandalism stoked outrage in Chinese media, such as Xinhua . The Franklin Institute blamed its external security contractor, and stated it had reviewed its security measures and procedures to prevent such situations from recurring. The defendant

350-656: A press pass providing him access to the Parliament of Canada, had previously tried to consult the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in 2009 on the matter of writing for Xinhua, but was ignored by CSIS. During the 2017 China–India border standoff , Xinhua's English-language new media program The Spark released a satirical video named the "Seven Sins of India " on 16 August 2017, in which presenter Di'er Wang spoke of Indians having "thick skin" and "pretending to sleep" on

420-424: A strict hierarchical pattern designed to facilitate party control. A publication called Reference News —which includes translated articles from abroad as well as news and commentary by Xinhua reporters—is delivered by Xinhua personnel, rather than by the national mail system, to officials at the working level and above. A three-to-ten-page report called Internal Reference ( Neibu Cankao ) is distributed to officials at

490-555: A year-end party. Samuel Vaughan Merrick Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.237 via cp1104 cp1104, Varnish XID 202438205 Upstream caches: cp1104 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:53:35 GMT Xinhua Xinhua News Agency (English pronunciation: / ˌ ʃ ɪ n ˈ hw ɑː / ), or New China News Agency ,

560-612: Is featured in Benjamin Franklin Forever , an hourly 3.5-minute multimedia presentation utilizing the entire rotunda. Also noteworthy is the Franklin Institute's Frankliniana Collection, some of which is on rotating display in the Pendulum Staircase. Highlights include Franklin's 1777 Nini Medallion, the scale model of the bust from the statue in the Memorial, the figurehead of Franklin's bust from

630-915: Is a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The Franklin Institute is also a member of the Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative with the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History; the Museum of Science, Boston ; COSI Columbus , formerly known as the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio ; OMSI in Portland, Oregon ;

700-726: Is increasingly stepping into the void left by other news wires like the Associated Press, because Xinhua content is free or cheap", and warned about Xinhua content being used by local news outlets in countries such as Thailand , saying: "Readers don't really notice where it comes from. That's going to skew the views of the general reading public, and that's quite dangerous." In 2018, Xinhua, in partnership with Tencent 's subsidiary Sogou , launched its first artificial intelligence -generated news anchor. In 2005, Reporters Without Borders called Xinhua "The World's Biggest Propaganda Machine", pointing out that Xinhua's president held

770-620: Is the official state news agency of the People's Republic of China . It is a State Council 's ministry-level institution, and was founded in 1931. It is the largest media organ in China. Xinhua is a publisher, as well as a news agency; it publishes in multiple languages and is a channel for the distribution of information related to the Chinese government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its headquarters in Beijing are located close to

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840-425: The "Kite and Key" experiment . In 1826, The Journal of The Franklin Institute was established to publish US Patent information and to document scientific and technological achievements throughout the nation. It is the second oldest continuously published scientific journal in the country, and is now primarily devoted to engineering and applied mathematics . Since 1824, the Franklin Institute has maintained

910-956: The Associated Press (AP) of the United States signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation. Some lawmakers in the US congress asked the AP to release the text of its memorandum of understanding with Xinhua. In response, AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton told The Washington Post that AP's agreement with Xinhua is to allow it to operate inside China and has no bearing on AP's independence, and that Xinhua has no access to AP's sensitive information and no influence over AP's editorial decisions. In December 2022, journalist Joshua Kurlantzick said that Xinhua has had more success than other Chinese state media outlets such as China Global Television Network and China Radio International in acting as

980-548: The Benjamin Franklin Parkway , near the intersection with 20th Street, in 1934. The new facility was intended from the start to educate visitors through hand-on interactions with exhibits: "Visitors to this museum would be encouraged to touch, handle, and operate the exhibits in order to learn how things work." Funds to build the new Institute and Franklin Memorial came from the Poor Richard Club,

1050-526: The Dalai Lama for Xinhua's internal media , which Bourrie felt amounted to gathering intelligence for China. Zhang denied the allegation, telling the Canadian Press that Xinhua's policy is to "cover public events by public means" and his bureau's job is to cover news events and file the stories to Xinhua's editing rooms, who would then decide which stories would be published. Bourrie, who had

1120-624: The Foreign Agents Registration Act . In 2020, the United States Department of State designated Xinhua and other state-owned media outlets as a foreign mission . Xinhua registered in the U.S. as a foreign agent in May 2021. In June 2022, Fu Hua, the former CCP Committee Secretary of Beijing Daily , was appointed president of Xinhua. In September 2022, Fu stated, "Xinhua will never depart from

1190-612: The Kuomintang , and also international news from agencies like TASS and Havas . Xinhua first started using letterpress printing in 1940. During the Pacific War the agency developed overseas broadcasting capabilities and established its first overseas branches. It began broadcasting to foreign countries in English from 1944. In 1949, Xinhua followed a subscription model instead of its previous limited distribution model. In

1260-679: The Pantheon in Rome . The Hall is 82 ft (25 m) in length, width, and height. The domed ceiling is self-supporting and weighs 1600 tons. The floors, walls, columns, pilasters, and cornices are made of marbles imported from Portugal, Italy, and France. The United States Congress designated the Hall and statue as the official Benjamin Franklin National Memorial on October 25, 1972 ( Pub. L.   92–551 ). The Memorial

1330-731: The Science Museum of Minnesota in Saint Paul, Minnesota ; and the California Science Center , formerly the California Museum of Science & Industry, in Los Angeles . The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial features a 20-foot (6.1 m) high marble statue, sculpted by James Earle Fraser . Originally opened in 1938, the Memorial was designed by architect John T. Windrim and modeled after

1400-613: The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong. His predecessor, Xu Jiatun , was also vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee , before fleeing to the United States in response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre , where he went into exile. It was authorized by the special administrative region government to continue to represent the central government after 1997, and it

1470-454: The Ukraine bioweapons conspiracy theory , after Meta Platforms banned Russian state media advertisement buys. During the 2022 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan , Xinhua published an altered image of a Taiwanese Chi Yang-class frigate near the coast of Hualien County appearing to be a People's Liberation Army Navy vessel. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense labelled

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1540-624: The frigate USS  Franklin , his ceremonial sword used in the court of King Louis XVI, and the odometer that Franklin used to measure the postal routes in Philadelphia. Additionally, the institute's Electricity exhibition highlights one of Franklin's lightning rods, his electricity tube, a Franklin Electrostatic Generator , the 1751 publication of Franklin's Experiments and Observations on Electricity , and Thornton Oakley 's two 1940 historical murals of Franklin and

1610-465: The "eyes and tongue" of the CCP, observing what is important for the masses and passing on the information. A former Xinhua director, Zheng Tao, noted that the agency was a bridge between the CCP, the government, and the people, communicating both the demands of the people and CCP policies. In 2018, the United States Department of Justice directed Xinhua's U.S. branch to register as a foreign agent under

1680-542: The 1980s. Many scientists have demonstrated groundbreaking new technology at the Franklin Institute. From September 2 to October 11, 1884, it hosted the International Electrical Exhibition of 1884 , the first great electrical exposition in the United States. The world's first public demonstration of an all-electronic television system was later given by Philo Taylor Farnsworth on August 25, 1934. The first female member, Elizabeth Skinner,

1750-511: The Arts determines the winners of these awards. Recipients and related information can be found in the laureates database. The Franklin Institute also undertakes research in informal science education. Areas of special strength are educational technology, school partnerships, and youth leadership. In addition, the center has built a substantial portfolio of unique online resources of the history of science, including online exhibits on Ben Franklin and

1820-524: The Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science (Bower Science Award) and the Bower Award for Business Leadership have been awarded annually. They are funded by a $ 7.5 million bequest in 1988 from Henry Bower, a chemical manufacturer in Philadelphia. The Bower Science Award contains $ 250,000 of cash, one of the largest amounts for a science award in the US. The institute's Committee on Science and

1890-574: The Center is a partnership between the Franklin Institute and the Girl Scouts of the USA provided girls and their families a chance to learn about science together. Over 100 sites participated in the program, with over 70 of the sites still active today. Girls at the Center provided activities for the girls to do with their families at home, as well as projects to be completed on site, all culminating in

1960-750: The Chinese Soviet Zone of Ruijin , Jiangxi province. It mostly republished news from its rival Central News Agency (CNA) for party and army officials. The agency got its name of Xinhua in November 1935, at the end of the Long March , in which the Chinese Red Army retreated from Jiangxi to Shaanxi . By the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Xinhua's Reference News translated CNA news from

2030-719: The City Board of Trust, the Benjamin Franklin Memorial, Inc., and the Franklin Institute. John T. Windrim's original design was a completely square building surrounding the Benjamin Franklin Statue, which had yet to be built. Despite the effects of the Great Depression , the Benjamin Franklin Memorial, Inc. raised $ 5 million between December 1929 and June 1930. Only two of the four wings envisioned by Windrim were built; these face

2100-879: The Edward Longstreth Medal (1890), the Howard N. Potts Medal (1911), the Franklin Medal (1915), the George R. Henderson Medal (1924), the Louis E. Levy Medal (1924), the John Price Wetherill Medal (1926), The Frank P. Brown Medal (first awarded in 1941), Stuart Ballantine Medal (1947), and the Albert A. Michelson Medal (1968). Past winners include Henry Ford , Frank Lloyd Wright , Marie Curie , and Thomas Edison . In 1998 all of

2170-833: The Heart, as well as resources on the Wright Aeronautical Engineering Collection. The Franklin Institute is a member of the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). Opening in September 2006, The Science Leadership Academy is a partnership between the Franklin Institute and the School District of Philadelphia . The Franklin Institute offers summer institutes and school year mini-courses for K-8 teachers, in collaboration with

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2240-667: The Lunar Module in the Apollo space program, first shown on display in the 1966–67 World's Fair, held in the New York Hall of Science, is also located on the grounds. (See photo .) In 1933, Samuel Simeon Fels contributed funds to build The Fels Planetarium , only the second built in the United States after Chicago 's Adler Planetarium . Fully reconstructed in 2002, the Planetarium's new design includes replacement of

2310-462: The Parkway and share design elements with other cultural and civic structures around Logan Circle . On March 31, 1940, press agent William Castellini issued a press release stating that the world would end the next day. The story was picked up by KYW , which reported, "Your worst fears that the world will end are confirmed by astronomers of Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. Scientists predict that

2380-689: The School District of Philadelphia and Curriculum & Instruction Office. Partnerships for Achieving Careers in Technology and Science , or PACTS, is a year-round program of science enrichment, career development, and leadership opportunities for diverse middle- and high-school students in the Philadelphia Region. PACTS students use hands-on science workshops, field based research, field trips, and laboratory experiments to learn how science affects their everyday lives. Girls at

2450-562: The Science Museum holds the largest collection of artifacts from the Wright brothers ' workshop. The Science Center includes many pertinent attractions that are not museum exhibits. The Budd BB-1 Pioneer flying boat, in front of the museum, was the world's first stainless steel airplane, built by Philadelphia-based Edward F. Budd Manufacturing Corporation , and has been on display since 1935. A mock-up which would eventually become

2520-851: The State Council. Xinhua established its first overseas affiliate in 1947 in London, with Samuel Chinque as publisher. It distributes its news from the publication's overseas headquarters in New York City , in conjunction with distributing coverage from the United Nations bureau, as well as its other hubs in Asia, Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. As of 2024, Xinhua has over 170 overseas bureaus. Xinhua's branch in Hong Kong

2590-530: The US-based company Devumi was providing "Twitter followers and retweets to celebrities, businesses and anyone who wants to appear more popular or exert influence online." The article alleged an unnamed Xinhua editor bought "hundreds of thousands of followers and retweets on Twitter". In 2019, Xinhua was criticized for perceived bias in its portrayal of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests as violent and illegitimate, which led Twitter to ban it and other state-sponsored media outlets from ad purchases. In 2020, Xinhua

2660-414: The article acknowledges that "Xinhua's spin diminishes when the news doesn't involve China". During the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak , Xinhua was slow to release reports of the incident to the public. However, its reporting in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake was seen as more transparent and credible as Xinhua journalists operated more freely. After the Beijing Television Cultural Center fire ,

2730-477: The central government's headquarters at Zhongnanhai . Xinhua tailors its pro-Chinese government message to the nuances of each international audience. The organization has faced criticism for spreading propaganda and disinformation and for criticizing people, groups, or movements critical of the Chinese government and its policies. The predecessor to Xinhua was the Red China News Agency ( 紅色中華通訊社 ; Hóngsè Zhōnghuá Tōngxùnshè ), founded in November 1931 as

2800-533: The comforts of the community at large. Begun in 1825, the institute was an important force in the professionalization of American science and technology through the nineteenth century, beginning with early investigations into steam engines and water power . In addition to conducting scientific inquiry, it fostered research and education by running schools, publishing the influential Journal of The Franklin Institute , sponsoring exhibitions, and recognizing scientific advancement and invention with medals and awards. In

2870-639: The comments. During the May 68 events in France, Xinhua and PRC embassy press office staff were reported to exploit civil unrest to undertake industrial espionage at French factories. Xinhua staff struggled to find the "right line" to use in covering the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre . Although more cautious than People's Daily in its treatment of sensitive topics during that period – such as how to commemorate reformist CCP leader Hu Yaobang 's April 1989 death and then ongoing demonstrations in Beijing and elsewhere – Xinhua gave some favorable coverage to demonstrators and intellectuals supportive of

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2940-415: The deputy secretary of Xinhua, Wong Man-fong, negotiated with Hong Kong-based triads on behalf of the Chinese government to ensure their peace after the handover of Hong Kong. Despite its unofficial status, the directors of the Xinhua Hong Kong Branch included high-ranking former diplomats such as Zhou Nan , former Ambassador to the United Nations and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, who later negotiated

3010-418: The direct aftermath of the Chinese Civil War , the agency represented the People's Republic of China in countries and territories with which it had no diplomatic representation , such as British Hong Kong . In 1956, Xinhua began reporting on anti-Marxist and other opinions critical of the CCP. In 1957, Xinhua switched from a journal format to a newspaper format. The agency was described by media scholars as

3080-433: The dome which is over 70 ft (21 m) across and 4.5 stories tall. In addition, the theater has 20,000 watts of amplifier power and over 50 speakers. The theater was closed in 2020 due to COVID-19 , and did not reopen with the rest of the museum. In November 2023, the Franklin Institute confirmed that the theater would remain closed permanently, citing that it was financially unviable and had outdated equipment, and that

3150-499: The endowed medals were reorganized as the Benjamin Franklin Medals . Multiple medals are given every year, for different fields of science and engineering. The fields awarded today are " Chemistry ", " Computer and Cognitive Science ", " Earth and Environmental Science ", " Electrical Engineering ", " Life Science ", " Mechanical Engineering " and " Physics ". In the past also the fields " Earth Science ", " Engineering " and " Materials Science " were rewarded. Additionally since 1990,

3220-426: The exhibit left Philadelphia on September 30, 2007, it traveled to London . This exhibit was nearly twice the size of the original Tutankhamun exhibit of the 1970s, and contained 50 objects directly from Tut's tomb, as well as nearly 70 object from the tombs of his ancestors in The Valley of the Kings . The show also featured a CAT Scan that revealed what the Boy King may have looked like. The Franklin Institute

3290-401: The existing Institute building and exhibits. In 2011, the Franklin Institute received a $ 10 million gift from Athena and Nicholas Karabots towards the Inspire Science! capital campaign. This gift is the largest gift in the institute's history, and put the Franklin Institute within $ 6 million of the $ 64.7 million capital campaign goal. The Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion will house not only

3360-420: The institute housed the work of Dyymond Whipper-Young as she broke the Guinness world record for the "world's largest drawing by an individual". In 2006, the Franklin Institute began fundraising activities for the Inspire Science! capital campaign, a $ 64.7 million campaign intended to fund the construction of a 53,000 sq ft (4,900 m) building addition, new exhibits, and upgrades and renovations to

3430-477: The internal publications because they can write less polemical and more comprehensive stories without making the omissions of unwelcome details commonly made in the media directed to the general public. The internal reports, written from a large number of countries, typically consist of in-depth analyses of international situations and domestic attitudes towards regional issues and perceptions of China. The Chinese government's internal media publication system follows

3500-422: The late 20th century, the institute's research roles gave way to educating the general public through its museum. The Bartol Research Foundation of the Franklin Institute, founded in 1924 to conduct research in the physical sciences, now is part of the University of Delaware and named Bartol Research Institute . The Franklin Institute Laboratories for Research and Development operated from the Second World War into

3570-423: The longest continuously awarded science and technology awards program in the United States, and one of the oldest in the world. The first issue of the Journal of The Franklin Institute , dated January 1826, makes the first written reference to these awards. Before 1998 several medals were awarded by the Franklin Institute, such as (year indicates when the award was first presented): the Elliott Cresson Medal (1875),

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3640-498: The matter of the border dispute. Wang stated that India was physically threatening Bhutan , and compared India to a "robber who breaks into a house and does not leave". An actor in the video portraying "India" with a turban , beard and accent sparked allegations of racism and anti-Indian sentiment . The video was criticized on Twitter and by Indian and Western media. In January 2018, The New York Times published an investigative report on social media promotions, alleging that

3710-419: The ministerial level and higher. One example was the first reports on the SARS outbreak by Xinhua which only government officials were allowed to see. The most classified Xinhua internal reports are issued to the top dozen or so party and government officials. Xinhua headquarters is located in Beijing, strategically located near Zhongnanhai, which houses the headquarters of the CCP, the General Secretary, and

3780-632: The movement. Conflict between journalists and top editors over the censorship of stories about the Tiananmen Square crackdown lasted for several days after the military's dispersal of demonstrators on 4 June, with some journalists going on strike and demonstrating inside the agency's Beijing headquarters. Government oversight of the media increased after the protests – top editors at the agency's bureaus in Hong Kong and Macau were replaced with appointees who were pro-Beijing . In 2012, Xinhua's Ottawa correspondent Mark Bourrie resigned after Ottawa bureau chief Zhang Dacheng allegedly requested him to report on

3850-407: The museum would be investing in other new exhibits instead. Early in 2008, extensive renovation of the museum's auditorium was completed. Previously a lecture hall, the space was renamed Franklin Theater , and features 3-D and hi-def Blu-ray digital projection capabilities. The Franklin Theater shows educational films during daytime hours while also including mass release feature-length films. In

3920-415: The original 40,000-pound stainless steel dome, originally built in 1933. The new premium dome is lighter and is 60 feet (18 m) in diameter. It is the first of its kind in the United States. The planetarium is also outfitted for visitors who are hearing impaired. The Tuttleman IMAX Theater is an IMAX dome theater that is 180° encompassing and tilted at 30 degrees. The seating places the audience up in

3990-872: The party line, not even for a minute, nor stray from the path laid down by General Secretary Xi Jinping ". By 2021, Xinhua had 181 bureaus globally, publishing news in multiple languages. Xinhua is also responsible for handling, and in some cases, censoring reports from foreign media destined for release in China. In 2010, Xinhua acquired prime commercial real estate on Times Square in Manhattan and started an English-language satellite news network. Xinhua has paid other media outlets such as The New York Times , The Washington Post , and The Wall Street Journal to carry its advertorial inserts, branded as "China Watch" or "China Focus". The CCP's internal media system , in which certain journals ( neican ) are published exclusively for government and party officials, provides information and analysis which are not available to

4060-500: The past, the Science Center has hosted many traveling exhibits including Storms , Titanic , Grossology , Body Worlds , Darwin , and Robots . In the summer of 2007, the Franklin Institute hosted Tutankhamun and The Golden Age of The Pharaohs, in the Mandell Center of the Franklin Institute Science Museum. The exhibit began its United States Tour in Los Angeles , and went to Fort Lauderdale , and Chicago , before coming to Philadelphia for its final American appearance. When

4130-400: The public. Xinhua produces reports for these internal journals that contain information that the CCP considers too sensitive for public consumption and can pertain to subjects for security and intelligence purposes. Xinhua reporters file certain internal reports to CCP leadership from secure rooms in some Chinese embassies. Informed observers note that journalists generally like to write for

4200-502: The publication of a BBC News report on the situation in Xinjiang which, according to The Diplomat , "included an attempt to directly refute the testimony of one witness quoted in the BBC report. (Notably, Xinhua's fact check did not address the bulk of the testimony from other survivors.)" During the Russian invasion of Ukraine , Xinhua and other Chinese state media outlets paid for digital ads on Facebook supporting pro-Kremlin disinformation and propaganda, including dissemination of

4270-485: The rank of a minister in the government. The report stated that the news agency was "at the heart of censorship and disinformation put in place" by the government. In a 2007 interview with The Times of India , then Xinhua president Tian Congming affirmed the problem of "historical setbacks and popular perceptions" with respect to Xinhua's credibility. Newsweek criticized Xinhua as "being best known for its blind spots" regarding controversial news in China, although

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4340-413: The threat of the virus within China and to other countries", and that it frequently highlighted the efforts of doctors and citizens in combating the virus, while ignoring the ways China had initially covered up the signs of an outbreak and Chinese citizens' growing anger at the government's response. In 2012, Xinhua launched a Uyghur language website. In 2021, Xinhua published a " fact check " following

4410-655: The vice president of the CCP's China International Publishing Group stated that quantity of media exposure would not necessarily help perceptions of China. Rather, he said, media should focus on emphasizing Chinese culture "to convey the message that China is a friend, not an enemy". Xinhua has criticized perceived foreign media bias and inaccurate reporting, citing an incident during the 2008 Tibetan unrest when media outlets used scenes of Nepalese police arresting Tibetan protesters as evidence of Chinese state brutality with commentary from CNN 's Jack Cafferty calling China's leaders "goons and thugs". CNN later apologized for

4480-399: The world will end at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time tomorrow. This is no April Fool joke . Confirmation can be obtained from Wagner Schlesinger, director of the Fels Planetarium of this city." This caused a panic in the city which only subsided when the Franklin Institute assured people it had made no such prediction. Castellini was dismissed shortly thereafter. On December 21, 2017, during

4550-408: Was charged both with theft, and with concealment of an item of cultural heritage. The defense argued that the defendant was being "overcharged" under statutes applicable to professional art thieves. An April 2019 trial ended in a hung jury with seven of the 12 jurors in favor of acquittal. A February 2020 retrial was postponed due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic . In 2021,

4620-434: Was dedicated by Vice President Nelson Rockefeller in 1976. On December 30, 2005, Congress authorized the institute to receive up to $ 10 million in matching grants for the rehabilitation of the memorial and for the development of related exhibits. In the fall of 2008, the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial was re-opened after a summer-long restoration that included multimedia enhancements. Philadelphia's most famous citizen

4690-422: Was elected to membership in 1833. The Franklin Institute was integrated in 1870, when Philadelphia teacher and activist Octavius Catto was admitted as a member. The institute's original building at 15 South 7th Street, later the home of the (now-defunct) Atwater Kent Museum , eventually proved too small for the institute's research, educational programs, and library. The Institute moved into its current home on

4760-409: Was not just a press office, but served as the de facto embassy of the PRC in the territory when it was under British administration. It was named a news agency under the special historic conditions before the 1997 handover , because the People's Republic did not recognize British sovereignty over the colony, and could not set up a consulate on what it considered to be its soil. In the early 1980s,

4830-415: Was one of several Chinese state media agencies reported to have been disseminating propaganda, targeted advertisements and social media posts, and news that showed the Chinese government in a better light. In 2022, journalist Joshua Kurlantzick noted that Xinhua's coverage of the pandemic, while being "sometimes factual and on the face of it little different in style from other newswires, often downplayed

4900-434: Was renamed "The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR" on 18 January 2000, retaining branch chief Jiang Enzhu as inaugural director. Xinhua opened its Middle East Regional Bureau in Cairo, Egypt in 1985. In 2015, Xinhua and other Chinese state media outlets signed cooperation and content-sharing agreements with Russian state media outlets. In November 2018, Xinhua News Agency and

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