Death toll up to 143 from Nepal earthquake

STORY: Death toll up to 143 from Nepal earthquake SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 4, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 4, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:20 LOCATION: Kathmandu CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of sites hit by earthquake STORYLINE: The death toll from a strong earthquake that hit western Nepal on Friday night has risen to 143, Nepal Police said on Saturday. The number of the injured has increased to 166, Nepal Police said in a statement. The 6.4-magnitude quake hit Jajarkot and Rukum West districts at 23:47 local time on Friday night, with a depth of 10-15 km, according to the authorities. Nepal Police, Nepal Armed Police Force and Nepali Army participated in the rescue operation, as the government has prioritized the rescue and treatment of the injured. Nepal's provincial governments have announced relief packages for the quake-hit areas, while the Nepali Congress and the Rastriya Swatantra Party offered 5 million Nepali rupees (37,800 U.S. dollars) and two teams of doctors in aid, respectively. It took time for t

India collects record high monthly tax in April

STORY: India collects record high monthly tax in April DATELINE: May 2, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:33 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of the markets 4. various of traffic STORYLINE: Indian government's revenue through gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collected in a single month touched the highest ever figure of 1.87 trillion Indian Rupees (22.88 billion U.S. dollars) in April, announced the federal Ministry of Finance on Monday. The federal government introduced the GST regime in July 2017. The tax revenues for the Indian government for April were 12 percent higher year on year. It was also the first time that GST collections had crossed the 1.75 trillion India Rupees mark. According to the federal finance ministry, the highest GST collected on a single day was 682.28 billion Indian Rupees (8.34 billion U.S. dollars) on April 20 through as many as 980,000 transactions, added the statement. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (

Rickshaws, banned in West Bengal, still ply in Kolkata streets

Rickshaws, banned in West Bengal, still ply in Kolkata streets

KOLKATA, India - Rickshaw drivers wait for their fares in the East India city of Kolkata. The state government of West Bengal banned rickshaws as ''inhuman'' a year ago, but rickshaws still provide an inexpensive means of transport for the citizens in Kolkata. Rickshaw drivers say they can rent a rickshaw for 20 rupees (about 60 yen) a day. One 60-year-old driver says he can earn 50 rupees a day after paying the rental fee. ''I can hardly give up this way of life. In the past, there were times when I took in only 10 rupees in cash a month as a farmer in my hometown,'' he says.

Pakistani PM launches interest-free loan program for poverty alleviation

STORY: Pakistani PM launches interest-free loan program for poverty alleviation DATELINE: March 4, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:20 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of people workingSOUNDBITE (Urdu): IMRAN KHAN, Prime Minister of Pakistan STORYLINE: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday launched an interest-free loan program worth 407 billion Pakistani rupees (2.29 billion U.S. dollars) as part of his government's efforts in poverty alleviation. Addressing a ceremony attended by people from low-income groups, Khan said that the program aims to make low-income groups financially self-reliant and to promote economic growth in the country. The government will provide loans for youth, women, and farmers during the next two years under the initiative, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. SOUNDBITE (Urdu): IMRAN KHAN, Prime Minister of Pakistan "4.5 million of Pakistani families with lowest incomes; for every household, if they are in the cities, then