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Afghanistan expects to harvest 50 tonnes of saffron this year

STORY: Afghanistan expects to harvest 50 tonnes of saffron this year SHOOTING TIME: June 10, 2024 DATELINE: June 10, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: HERAT, Afghanistan CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people working in a saffron factory in Herat, Afghanistan 2. various of the street views in Herat STORYLINE: Saffron cultivation has seen a rise in Afghanistan, with the war-torn country anticipating a harvest of approximately 50 tonnes of the valuable plant this year, the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock said. Saffron, locally known as red gold, has been cultivated in 26 out of the country's 34 provinces, with nearly 90 percent harvested in the western Herat province, local television channel TOLOnews reported on Saturday. Afghanistan's saffron stands out for its exceptional quality and flavor, consistently earning the top position in a global competition hosted by the International Taste Institute based in Belgium for the ninth consecutive year, Sadr Azam Osmani,

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Bangladesh's annual SME fair kicks off

STORY: Bangladesh's annual SME fair kicks off SHOOTING TIME: May 19, 2024 DATELINE: May 20, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Dhaka CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the SME fair STORYLINE: Bangladesh's annual National Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Fair-2024 began in the capital of Dhaka on Sunday. More than 300 SME institutions have been exhibiting their products, including jute, agriculture and leather products, and electrical and information and technology goods at the seven-day fair. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Dhaka. In her speech, Hasina asked all concerned to create more opportunities for female entrepreneurs. She said men can take initiatives bringing their wives and sisters in the SME business by enjoying opportunities of SME facilities that include taking loan on four percent interest rate. She expressed her satisfaction as 60 percent SME entrepreneurs in the country are w

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Italian youth population declining as number of elderly grows

STORY: Italian youth population declining as number of elderly grows SHOOTING TIME: May 15, 2024 DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:46 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Italy STORYLINE: The number of young adults in Italy has declined sharply in the last two decades, while the number of elderly people in the country has grown, government data released Wednesday shows. Italy's National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) said in its 2024 Annual Report that an increasing number of those in the youngest demographic continue to live at home with their parents, and Italians are also getting married and having children later in life. The number of young adults in Italy -- defined as people between the ages of 18 and 34 -- fell by more than 3 million in the 21-year span ending last year, ISTAT reported. Over that time, the number of young adults declined to 10.33 million compared to 13.39 million in 2002, a decrease of 22.9 percent. In contrast, the number of elderly people

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Report reveals rise of Australian women killed by intimate partner

STORY: Report reveals rise of Australian women killed by intimate partner SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: May 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:23 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the protest demanding an end to gendered violence STORYLINE: The rate of Australian women who were killed by a current or former partner increased by almost 30 percent in 2022-23, official data has revealed. The government-funded Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) on Tuesday released the latest data from the National Homicide Monitoring Program. It revealed that there were 247 homicide victims in Australia in the 12-month period to the end of June 2023, 75 of whom were women. Of the 75 women, 34 or 45.3 percent were killed by a current or former male intimate partner, up from 26 in the previous 12 months. Overall 60 women were killed by men in 2022-23. The rate of intimate partner homicide involving a female victim increased by 28 percent from 0.25 homicides per 100,000 people in 20

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Bank of Japan keeps interest rate unchanged, yen sinks below 156

STORY: Bank of Japan keeps interest rate unchanged, yen sinks below 156 SHOOTING TIME: file DATELINE: April 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of Japan 2. various of city view in Tokyo 3. various of fresh food in supermarkets 4. various of city view in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Japanese central bank on Friday maintained its policy rate unchanged after wrapping up its two-day policy meeting, which sent the Japanese yen to its fresh 34-year low past the 156 line. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) decided to guide short-term interest rates in a range of zero and 0.1 percent, a month after it ended the negative interest rate policy in its first rate hike in 17 years. The announcement weakened the country's currency against the U.S. dollar to the lowest level since May 1990, raising the risk of forex intervention by Japanese authorities. The BOJ, which also maintained its policy regarding government bond buying, said the country's core inflation, which excludes volatile

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Egypt slashes prices of daily necessities amid currency inflation

STORY: Egypt slashes prices of daily necessities amid currency inflation SHOOTING TIME: April 5, 2024 DATELINE: April 6, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Cairo citizens shopping at markets 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): AMEL ABDEL-QAWY MOHAMED, Director of Supply Department in Cairo's Masr El Gedida neighbourhood 3. various of daily necessities STORYLINE: Egyptian government is expanding the supply of daily necessities by giving discounts ranging from 15 to 20 percent. Markets have already made considerable decreases in prices such as those of poultry and eggs starting from last Tuesday, as the government aims to slash prices of food commodities by 30 percent in the coming weeks in collaboration with the private sector. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): AMEL ABDEL-QAWY MOHAMED, Director of Supply Department in Cairo's Masr El Gedida neighborhood "Of course, we are in the process of carrying out this initiative by decreasing prices, from 15 to 20 percent, of the basic or the stra

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Biden touts progress on economy, immigration despite wide disapproval

STORY: Biden touts progress on economy, immigration despite wide disapproval SHOOTING TIME: March 7, 2024 DATELINE: March 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Biden preparing to deliver the State of the Union address 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOE BIDEN, U.S. President 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOE BIDEN, U.S. President 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): KATIE BRITT, Republican Senator 5. various of Biden departing after delivering the State of the Union address STORYLINE: In a highly partisan State of the Union address Thursday night, U.S. President Joe Biden launched a scorching attack on Donald Trump, his presumptive rival in the November election, and touted his achievements on issues such as inflation and immigration. With Biden's approval ratings lingering below 40 percent for months, his remarks likely won't resonate with most Americans, who are dismayed by still high prices, an uncertain economy, a border crisis, and geopolitical conflicts, among o

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Turnout in Iran's 2 major elections reaches 41 pct: minister

STORY: Turnout in Iran's 2 major elections reaches 41 pct: minister SHOOTING TIME: March 4, 2024 DATELINE: March 5, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:34 LOCATION: Tehran CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference STORYLINE: Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Monday at a press conference in Tehran that the turnout in the country's 12th parliamentary and sixth Assembly of Experts elections, which were held on Friday, reached 41 percent. The voting began at 8:00 am local time (0430 GMT) at 59,000 polling stations across Iran, with more than 15,000 candidates competing for 290 seats in the Iranian parliament and 144 candidates vying for positions at the eight-year-term Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body that oversees the activities of Iran's supreme leader and is empowered to designate and dismiss the supreme leader. The voting was initially scheduled to end at 6:00 pm local time but was extended three times, with each extension lasting for two hours. Vahidi said 25 million of the total 6

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Egyptian president says Suez Canal revenues drop by 40-50 percent since Gaza war

STORY: Egyptian president says Suez Canal revenues drop by 40-50 percent since Gaza war SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 19, 2024, FILE DATELINE: Feb. 20, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:34 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi at Egypt International Energy Conference (Courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency) 2. various of the Suez Canal (FILE) STORYLINE: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday that the Suez Canal's revenues have decreased by 40-50 percent since the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip and the recent tensions in the Red Sea. Sisi made the televised remarks during the inauguration of the Egypt Energy Show (EGYPES 2024), which runs on Feb. 19-21 in Cairo, and is themed "Driving Energy Transition, Security, and Decarbonization." The shipping corridor used to bring Egypt 10 billion U.S. dollars annually, Sisi said, adding that the state is supposed to pay its financial obligations to development companies and financing institutions.

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China's young generation powering gold rush

STORY: China's young generation powering gold rush SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 8, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:05 LOCATION: JINAN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people buying gold products at gold stores 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): HU MEI, Regional manager of a gold store in Guizhou Province 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): DU XUAN, Customer 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): XIE XIAOXIAN, Customer 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): XIA LIUXIA, Head of a gold shop in Shandong Province 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LIU HU, Director of a jewelry company under Shandong Gold Group Co. Ltd. STORYLINE: China has witnessed a thriving gold market recently. According to China Gold Association, in 2023, the national gold consumption reached nearly 1,090 tonnes, an increase of 8.78 percent year on year. According to the association, in 2023, the young population aged between 25 and 34 became the main force of gold consumption, with their proportion up from 16 percent to 59 percent. Before the Spring Festival holid

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Türkiye's third-busiest airport inaugurates new runway

STORY: Türkiye's third-busiest airport inaugurates new runway SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 25, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 26, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:20 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye 2. various of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan STORYLINE: Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Türkiye's largest city, Istanbul, inaugurated a new runway on Monday to better cope with the increasing capacity of the country's financial and cultural hub. At a ceremony held for the opening of the second runway at the airport, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that in the first 11 months of this year, the number of passengers at the Sabiha Gokcen Airport increased by 21 percent to 34 million, aboard 208,000 flights, compared to the same period last year. The airport, located in the Asian part of the bi-continental city, has been the third-busiest in Türkiye, following Istanbul Airport and Antalya Airport in the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya, as per t

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Bangladesh's sea fish trade hub enters fish drying peak season

STORY: Bangladesh's sea fish trade hub enters fish drying peak season SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 30, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of fish drying 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): MD RAFIQ UDDIN, Dry fish trader 3. various of fish drying 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): MD KAISER, Dry fish trader 5. various of fish drying STORYLINE: Fishermen in Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district, which is situated along the Bay of Bengal, are now busy drying fish in the traditional way. In Bangladesh, mid-October to mid-February is the peak fish drying season. In Cox's Bazar's Nazirar Tek village, the largest dried fish-producing village in the country, thousands have made temporary settlements for fish drying under the sun. Locally known as "shutki palli," meaning the place where dried fish is produced, Cox's Bazar meets 85 percent of the country's demand. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): MD RAFIQ UDDIN, Dry fish trader "Qutubdiapara in Nazira Tech i

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Existing technologies can halve Australia's emissions by 2030: report

STORY: Existing technologies can halve Australia's emissions by 2030: report SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 2, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:34 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of petrol stations 2. various of solar panels 3. various of vehicles STORYLINE: Existing technologies will enable Australia to halve its greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 levels by 2030, a report by the national science agency has found. According to the report, which was published by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Friday, that under a rapid decarbonization scenario, Australia could reduce emissions by 52 percent from 2020 levels by 2030 without relying on technological advancements. The report charts key milestones Australia must hit in 10-year timestep in order for the country to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It warns that technologies currently in early deve

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One Planet - Polar Summit held in Paris

STORY: One Planet - Polar Summit held in Paris SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 8, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 10, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:34 LOCATION: Paris CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the One Planet - Polar Summit 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): OLIVIER POIVRE D'ARVOR, French Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANGEL GUIRRA, President of Paris Peace Forum 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JEAN JOUZEL, French paleoclimatologist STORYLINE: The One Planet - Polar Summit is taking place from Wednesday to Friday in Paris. The summit aims to strengthen international cooperation to preserve the cryosphere and glacial and polar biodiversity. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): OLIVIER POIVRE D'ARVOR, French Ambassador for Poles and Maritime Issues "Glaciers and poles, it's 12 percent of the land in the world, which is a lot. What happens to affect the world due to the effects of climate change is the terrible collapse crisis affair. That will affect the sea level rise, which will probably be 2 meters on the gl

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(FOCUS) MIDEAST-GAZA-PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT-BREAD

(231110) -- GAZA, Nov. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians wait to buy bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Nov. 9, 2023. The poverty rate in Palestine will soar by 34 percent, thrusting nearly half a million additional people into poverty, if the war in Gaza continues for a second month, warns a UN report. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

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(FOCUS) MIDEAST-GAZA-PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT-BREAD

(231110) -- GAZA, Nov. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A man carries the bread to be sold in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Nov. 9, 2023. The poverty rate in Palestine will soar by 34 percent, thrusting nearly half a million additional people into poverty, if the war in Gaza continues for a second month, warns a UN report. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

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(FOCUS) MIDEAST-GAZA-PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT-BREAD

(231110) -- GAZA, Nov. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians wait to buy bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Nov. 9, 2023. The poverty rate in Palestine will soar by 34 percent, thrusting nearly half a million additional people into poverty, if the war in Gaza continues for a second month, warns a UN report. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

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(FOCUS) MIDEAST-GAZA-PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT-BREAD

(231110) -- GAZA, Nov. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Merchants make bread in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Nov. 9, 2023. The poverty rate in Palestine will soar by 34 percent, thrusting nearly half a million additional people into poverty, if the war in Gaza continues for a second month, warns a UN report. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

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(FOCUS) MIDEAST-GAZA-PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT-BREAD

(231110) -- GAZA, Nov. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Nov. 9, 2023 shows the bread to be sold in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis. The poverty rate in Palestine will soar by 34 percent, thrusting nearly half a million additional people into poverty, if the war in Gaza continues for a second month, warns a UN report. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

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Young Australians most at risk of gambling harm: gov't report

STORY: Young Australians most at risk of gambling harm: gov't report DATELINE: Oct. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a Canberra casino 2. various of machines at the casino 3. various of Australians 4. various of horse race betting STORYLINE: Australians aged 18-34 are at higher risk of serious harm from gambling than any other age group, a government survey has found. The Australian Gambling Research Center at the federal government agency, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) on Thursday published the latest edition of its National Gambling Trends Study. It found that regular slot machine gamblers aged 18-34 spent an average of 1,453 Australian dollars (914 U.S. dollars) a month on all forms of gambling and that 89 percent met the criteria for at-risk gambling, meaning they spend more than they can afford or feel guilty and stressed about their gambling. Regular online gamblers in the same age group spent an average of 886 Australian do

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Indonesia proposes 216 bln USD state budget for 2024

STORY: Indonesia proposes 216 bln USD state budget for 2024 DATELINE: Aug. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:08 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the parliament 2. SOUNDBITE (Bahasa Indonesia): JOKO WIDODO, Indonesian President STORYLINE: Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivered his annual budget speech to parliament on Wednesday, saying State Expenditure is allocated at 3,304.1 trillion rupiah (216.24 billion U.S. dollars) for 2024. According to him, the state revenue is planned at 2,781.3 trillion rupiah (181 million U.S. dollars) and the budget deficit is set at 2.29 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) which equals to 522.8 trillion rupiah (34 billion U.S. dollars) for 2024. The president said the budget was designed to face the geo-economic tension that may lead to disruption of supply chains, escalating the risk of global food and energy security. It also puts poverty eradication and human development as priorities. SOUNDBITE (Bahasa Indon

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Foreign tourist arrivals in Mongolia surge

STORY: Foreign tourist arrivals in Mongolia surge DATELINE: July 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of natural views in Mongolia STORYLINE: Mongolia has received a total of 421,780 foreign tourists so far this year, up nearly 73 percent year-on-year, the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism said Friday. Russia, China and South Korea were the biggest sources of tourist arrivals for Mongolia, the ministry said in a statement. The westernmost province of Bayan-Ulgii, which borders China and Russia, is one of the main tourist destinations where people can enjoy horseback riding, trekking and camping, as well as the untouched beauty of the Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain, the country's highest peak, and the Tsagaan gol or White River. The Mongolian government has been taking measures to revive the pandemic-hit tourism sector. In January, 34 countries were granted visa-free entry to Mongolia for tourism purposes, which increased the number of visa-exempt

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China's rail-sea intermodal trains make 4,500 trips on trade corridor

STORY: China's rail-sea intermodal trains make 4,500 trips on trade corridor DATELINE: July 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: NANNING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the cargo train 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO JIAN, Deputy director of Qinzhou Port's east railway station STORYLINE: China's rail-sea intermodal trains have made 4,500 trips along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in the first six months of this year, completing the mid-year target. A cargo train carrying 100 grain-loaded containers departed from the Qinzhou port station in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Friday, marking the 4,500th trip. From January to June this year, the freight trains launched through the corridor carried 225,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers, an increase of 9 percent from the same period last year. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHAO JIAN, Deputy director of Qinzhou Port's east railway station "Now the average inspection time for a cargo train with grain-loaded conta

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China donates hybrid rice seeds to flood-hit Pakistani province

STORY: China donates hybrid rice seeds to flood-hit Pakistani province DATELINE: June 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a conference 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JAN MUHAMMAD JAMALI, Balochistan's legislative assembly speaker 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BAO ZHONG, Counselor of political affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan STORYLINE: A Pakistani official on Tuesday welcomed a hybrid rice seed donation from China, saying it will play a major role in rebuilding the agriculture sector of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, which was badly affected by devastating floods last year. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JAN MUHAMMAD JAMALI, Balochistan's legislative assembly speaker "Last year we had terrible floods. Our areas were devastated. 85 to 90 percent of Baluchistan was affected by the floods. Today those seeds are going to be sent to revive the rice plantations, because the whole of the area is dependent on rice. I'm thankful to the government of China for

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Brazil's President Lula garners 41 pct approval rating: poll

STORY: Brazil's President Lula garners 41 pct approval rating: poll DATELINE: March 21, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: Brasilia CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva 2. various of Brasilia STORYLINE: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has garnered a 41 percent approval rating since taking office on Jan. 1 for a third term, an opinion poll has shown. The survey, conducted by pollster IPEC (Intelligence in Research and Strategic Consulting) and published Sunday by news outlet O Globo, showed Lula enjoys higher approval than his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) did at the start of his term (34 percent). Some 41 percent of those surveyed rated his administration as "good" or "excellent," and 30 percent rated it as "regular," said IPEC. Lula received better ratings at the start of his two previous terms with 51 percent approval in 2003 and 49 percent in 2007, the pollster noted. IPEC's executive director, Marcia Cavallari, told O Globo that the Brazi

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Laos's inflation hits 23-year high of 40.3 pct in January

STORY: Laos's inflation hits 23-year high of 40.3 pct in January DATELINE: Feb. 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: Vientiane CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the market STORYLINE: Laos's inflation rate climbed to 40.3 percent year-on-year in January 2023, the highest in 23 years, with a surge in energy and consumer goods prices. According to a report issued by the Lao Statistics Bureau on Monday, the soaring price of fuel, gas and other imported goods, compounded with the depreciation of the Lao currency kip, are among the main factors driving inflation. The price of communications and transport rose 49.9 percent, affecting both the cost of production and the cost of living. Meanwhile, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages category jumped by 47.1 percent. The cost of medical care and medicine increased by 42.2 percent. The cost of household utilities gained 34.2 percent. According to the report, the cost of the hotel and restaurant category surged 34 percent. The cost in the alcohol an

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Tunisians vote in 2nd round of legislative elections

STORY: Tunisians vote in 2nd round of legislative elections DATELINE: Jan. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:28 LOCATION: Tunis CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of a polling center in Tunis 2. various of voters STORYLINE: Tunisians on Sunday started voting in the second round of legislative elections, the Tunisian Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) said. A total of 4,222 voting centers and 10,012 polling stations opened from 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) to 6 p.m. (1700 GMT) local time. "The total number of candidates running for this round reached 262, including 34 women," said the ISIE President Farouk Bouasker at a press conference held in Tunis late Saturday night. The announcement of the preliminary results of the second round of the elections will be no later than Feb. 1, and the final results, after the end of the appeals, will be announced before March 4, according to Bouasker. The first round of Tunisia's legislative elections, which took place on Dec. 17, saw a low turnout rate of 11.22 percent,

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China's Guangdong Customs keep optimizing clearance procedures

STORY: China's Guangdong customs keep optimizing clearance procedures DATELINE: Jan. 20, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Nansha Port Section of Guangzhou Port 2. various of the imported flowers 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FENG DANDAN, Senior staff member of Guangzhou Customs STORYLINE: As China optimized its pandemic response, the southern Guangdong province also took measures to facilitate customs clearance to promote imports and exports. As the Spring Festival draws near, demand for flowers has been rising, including tulips and roses from countries like the Netherlands and Ecuador. To ensure the freshness of the imported flowers, the customs at Guangzhou Baiyun Intl' Airport initiated a "two-step declaration" to simplify entry procedures. During the first two weeks of this year, 62 batches of imported fresh cut flowers cleared customs at the airport, up 60.6 percent from the same period last year. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FENG DANDAN, Senior

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China's Three Gorges Dam registers record shipping throughput

STORY: China's Three Gorges Dam registers record shipping throughput DATELINE: Jan. 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: WUHAN, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Three Gorges Dam STORYLINE: The Three Gorges Navigation Authority said Monday that the shipping throughput of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, hit a new record in 2022. The project's total throughput reached 159.8 million tonnes in 2022, an increase of 6.12 percent year on year. In 2022, the cargo throughput of the project was 159.65 million tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 6.53 percent. Meanwhile, the throughput via the five-tier ship locks at the dam was 156.18 million tonnes, up 6.65 percent year on year. The Three Gorges project is a multi-functional water-control system, consisting of a 2,309-meter-long and 185-meter-high dam, five-tier ship locks on the north and south sides, and 34 turbo-generators with a combined generating capacity of 22.5 million kilowatts. Since the Three Gorges locks

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Cash payment down sharply in eurozone

STORY: Cash payment down sharply in eurozone DATELINE: Dec. 28, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: LYON, France CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of customers paying with a bank card in stores in Lyon, France 2. various of coins, banknotes and bank card STORYLINE: According to a study by the European Central Bank (ECB), cash payment represents 59 percent of in-store transactions in the eurozone in 2022, compared to 72 percent in 2019 and 79 percent in 2016. The COVID-19 pandemic and the development of contactless bank card payment methods have reduced the use of cash payments. Initially imposed for reasons of hygiene, Europeans have adopted new payment habits. For the first time this year, card payments exceeded cash payments in Europe. Payment by credit card has increased from 25 percent of transactions in 2019 to 34 percent in 2022. The continued development of e-commerce is also an important factor in analyzing these figures. The share of online purchases as a percentage of all euro area day-to-day

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People in Tokyo walk home after March 2011 disaster

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken March 11, 2011, in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward shows people walking to their homes after the massive earthquake paralyzed the public transportation systems in the capital area. Some 34 percent of people walked home from their workplaces or schools in Tokyo's 23 wards without waiting for the resumption of public transportation services, a survey by the Railway Technical Research Institute showed Jan. 28, 2012.

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Narita airport president in press conference

NARITA, Japan - Kosaburo Morinaka, president of Narita International Airport Corp., speaks during a press conference at the airport east of Tokyo on April 21, 2011. He said the number of foreign travelers arriving and departing the airport fell 34 percent in March from a year earlier to 494,326, as last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami, and the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant prompted tour cancellations.

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Housing sales in Türkiye drop 34 pct in November: official data

STORY: Housing sales in Türkiye drop 34 pct in November: official data DATELINE: Dec. 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:59 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Turkish flag 2. various of new residential buildings in Ankara STORYLINE: Official data showed Thursday that sales of residential properties in Türkiye decreased by 34.1 percent year on year to 117,806 in November. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, sales fell by 14.8 percent from October to November. Istanbul, Türkiye's largest city by population, had the highest share of 16.7 percent with 19,687 houses sold. Real estate sales to foreigners also dropped by 17.4 percent to 6,083 properties in November compared to the same month of the previous year. Türkiye's southern resort of Antalya topped house sales to foreigners with 2,616 properties in November, followed by Istanbul with 1,733 and the southern province of Mersin with 567. Russian citizens bought 2,575 houses in Türkiye in November, followed by Iranians wit

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Key COVID-19 indicators surge again in U.S., straining hospitals

STORY: Key COVID-19 indicators surge again in U.S., straining hospitals DATELINE: Dec. 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): XIA LIN, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of screenshots of U.S. CDC website 3. various of the exterior of a U.S. hospital in New York City 4. various of the street view in New York City STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): XIA LIN, Xinhua correspondent "Another COVID-19 winter surge is brewing in the Untied States as the key indicators are all rising. It has swamped the country's hospitals with a record number of patients sickened by respiratory diseases. The nation averaged about 65,569 new cases each day in the week ending Dec. 7, a 49.6 percent rise from the previous week. An average of more than 4,800 virus-positive Americans were admitted to hospitals each day in the week ending Dec. 6, a 13.8 percent increase over the week prior. Daily COVID-19 death count was also hiking. The country averaged over 420 COVID-19 deaths in th

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Forbes picks Japan's Shigeta among world's five richest men

TOKYO, Japan - This is a file photo of Yasumitsu Shigeta, president of Japanese cellular phone retailer Hikari Tsushin Inc., who has been named as the world's fifth richest man by Forbes Global magazine. The business magazine said Shigeta has the fastest-growing fortune in the world. Shigeta, 34, owns 62 percent of Hikari Tsushin. The company was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's First Section in September.

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Russian poverty rate ticks down to 10.5 pct

STORY: Russian poverty rate ticks down to 10.5 pct DATELINE: Dec. 1, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a Russian government meeting held on Nov.30 (Source: Kremlin) STORYLINE: Russia's poverty rate stood at 10.5 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2022, slightly down from 11 percent in the same period last year, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. "The decline is indeed small but it is important that in the current difficult economic situation there is such a definite positive trend. It needs to be preserved," Putin said at a government meeting. Thanks to targeted government support, the incomes of the least well-to-do 10 percent of the Russian population are increasing, he noted. "Our priority task is to achieve real income growth, reduce poverty and inequality in our country as a whole," Putin said. Russia's current poverty line for an able-bodied adult is 15,172 rubles (about 248 U.S. dollars) per month. Xinhua News Agency correspon

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Inflation in Laos surges to new high in October

STORY: Inflation in Laos surges to new high in October DATELINE: Nov. 9, 2022 LENGTH: 0:02:37 LOCATION: Vientiane CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the road 2. various of the market STORYLINE: Laos recorded the highest year-on-year inflation rate at 36.75 percent in October, up from 34 percent in September, according to the latest report from the Lao Statistics Bureau. These figures represent a significant increase since the beginning of 2022, with rising prices continuing to inflict hardship on people struggling to earn a living. According to the report released on Saturday from the Lao Statistics Bureau website, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages has surged by 38.8 percent year on year, driven by the rising price of rice and other daily food items such as pork, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, vegetable oil, fruit, and vegetables. Commercial transport and delivery charges rose by 58.1 percent compared to the previous month, especially for fuel, which was recorded at 95 percent in Octob

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UK inflation jumps back to 10.1 pct as food costs surge

STORY: UK inflation jumps back to 10.1 pct as food costs surge DATELINE: Oct. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of London streets 2. various of petrol stations in London 3. various of a supermarket in London STORYLINE: The United Kingdom's (UK) Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 10.1 percent in the 12 months to September 2022, up from 9.9 percent in August and returning to July's recent high. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.5 percent in September over August, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday. "After last month's small fall, headline inflation returned to its high seen earlier in the summer," explained Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics. "The rise was driven by further increases across food, which saw its largest annual rise in over 40 years, while hotel prices also increased after falling this time last year," he continued. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 14.6 percent in the 12 months to September

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Spanish PM Sanchez announces new measures against energy crisis

STORY: Spanish PM Sanchez announces new measures against energy crisis DATELINE: Oct. 14, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:34 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Spanish Congress 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): PEDRO SANCHEZ, Spain's Prime Minister 3. various of energy saving at home 4. various of trains STORYLINE: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday announced a new package of measures aimed at reducing the impact of the energy crisis this winter. Speaking in the Spanish Congress, Sanchez said his government would spend around 3,000 million euros on measures to help around 40 percent of Spanish households. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): PEDRO SANCHEZ, Spanish Prime Minister "We are going to use around 3,000 million euros from the budget to protect people against the rise of energy costs. They are measures that will help around 40 percent of the people in our country." The creation of a new regulated tariff for gas central heating aimed at cutting bills by around 50 percent is among the ac

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China's retail sales up 5.4 pct in August

STORY: China's retail sales up 5.4 pct in August DATELINE: Sept. 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:34 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of the press conference STORYLINE: China's retail sales of consumer goods went up 5.4 percent year on year in August. That's according to data revealed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday. The growth quickened from a 2.7 percent increase registered in July. Meanwhile, in the first eight months of this year, China's value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, went up 3.6 percent year on year. And in August, China's surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.3 percent, down from 5.4 percent in July. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

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Ethiopian firm eyes potential of Chinese coffee market

STORY: Ethiopian firm eyes potential of Chinese coffee market DATELINE: Sept. 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Addis Ababa CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of coffee treesSOUNDBITE (English): ISRAEL DEGFA, CEO of Kerchanshe Trading Private Limited Companyvarious of the coffee producing process STORYLINE: Figures from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) showed that China imported 5,879.34 metric tons of Ethiopian coffee valued at 30.4 million U.S. dollars during the 2021/2022 fiscal year that ended on July 7, up by 31 percent from the same period of the previous year. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Israel Degfa, the CEO of Kerchanshe Trading Private Limited Company (PLC), said that the emerging Chinese coffee market has offered "big opportunities" for export-driven coffee producers in Ethiopia and elsewhere around the globe. He added that his company, Ethiopia's largest coffee producer and exporter, plans to expand its exports to China. SOUNDBITE (English): ISRAEL DEGFA, CEO of Ker

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Malaysia's palm oil stocks rise to 2.09 million tons in August

STORY: Malaysia's palm oil stocks rise to 2.09 million tons in August DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of workers harvesting palm seeds on tree 2. various of palm oil plantation area 3. various of palm oil factory and oil truck on road STORYLINE: Malaysia's palm oil stocks rose 18.16 percent from the previous month to 2.09 million tons in August, official data showed Monday. According to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, the world's second-largest palm oil producer saw its crude palm oil production grow 9.67 percent month on month to 1.73 million tons in August. Palm oil exports slipped 1.94 percent month on month to 1.3 million tons in the same month. From January to August, Malaysia exported 9.81 million tons of palm oil worth 59.93 billion ringgit (13.31 billion U.S. dollars). Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kuala Lumpur. (XHTV)

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Malaysia's IPI, manufacturing sales value, unemployment rate in July released

STORY: Malaysia's IPI, manufacturing sales value, unemployment rate in July released DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:34 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia's National Flag 2. various of trucks in factory area and warehouses 3. various of Malaysia's National Flag 4. various of trucks in factory area and warehouses 5. various of Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers and Malaysia's National Flag 6. various of crowds and street views at Kuala Lumpur STORYLINE: The Department of Statistics Malaysia released data on the country's Industrial Production Index (IPI), manufacturing sales value and unemployment rate in July on Friday. The IPI in Malaysia increased 12.5 percent year on year. The expansion was driven by the manufacturing, electricity and mining sectors, with the growth of 14.9 percent, 13.2 percent and 3.2 percent respectively, the department said in a statement. The manufacturing sales value rose 23.8 percent to 148.4 billion ringgit (33 billion U

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Three Gorges Dam ship locks register record cargo throughput

STORY: Three Gorges Dam ship locks register record cargo throughput DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:32 LOCATION: WUHAN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Three Gorges Dam STORYLINE: The cargo throughput via the five-tier ship locks at the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project in the upper stream of the Yangtze, reached a record high of 102 million tonnes during the first eight months of this year, according to the China Three Gorges Corporation. China's longest river, the Yangtze, an east-west inland waterway, is regarded as the country's "golden shipping route." During the January-August period, nearly 24.5 million tonnes of key materials including coal, diesel, and grain were transported via the Three Gorges Dam, up 6.3 percent year on year, according to the corporation. The Three Gorges project is a multi-functional water-control system, consisting of a 2,309-meter-long and 185-meter-high dam, five-tier ship locks on the north and south sides, and 34 turbo-g

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Türkiye keeps benchmark interest rate unchanged for 7th straight month

STORY: Türkiye keeps benchmark interest rate unchanged for 7th straight month DATELINE: July 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. Various of Turkish central bank 2. Various of Turkish lira 3. Various of Turkish central bank 4. Various of an exchange office in Türkiye (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency) 5. Various of Turkish central bank 6. Various of people at shopping in Türkiye (courtesy of Ihlas News Agency) 7. Various of Turkish central bank 8. Various of U.S. dollar STORYLINE: Türkiye's central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 14 percent for a seventh straight month on Thursday amid soaring inflation. "The committee expects the disinflation process to start on the back of measures taken and decisively implemented for strengthening sustainable price and financial stability along with the resolution of the ongoing regional conflict. Accordingly, the committee has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged," the central bank's Monetary Policy Comm

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Britain's inflation hits fresh 40-year high as fuel, food prices surge

STORY: Britain's inflation hits fresh 40-year high as fuel, food prices surge DATELINE: July 21, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NIKKI, London resident 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PAULA, London resident 3. Various of a petrol station in Edinburgh in June 4. Various of streets in Edinburgh 5. Various of streets in Glasgow 6. Various of London skyline 7. Various of streets in London STORYLINE: Official statistics showed on Wednesday, amid rising prices for motor fuels and food, Britain's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 9.4 percent in the 12 months to June, hitting a fresh 40-year high. According to the Office for National Statistics, on a monthly basis, the country's CPI rose by 0.8 percent in June 2022, compared with a rise of 0.5 percent in June 2021. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NIKKI, London resident (Are you seeing the price is going (up) really quickly?) Yes, yes. (Which part of the cost?) Electricity is the main one for most people. So electri

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Chinese entrepreneur helps Kenyans get access to safe drinking water

STORY: Chinese entrepreneur helps Kenyans get access to safe drinking water DATELINE: July 18, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:57 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of introducing and promoting water purifiers 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZHONG YANXIONG, Co-founder and CEO, iClear Wellife Service Limited 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WALTER WAMAE, Customer in Nairobi 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FLOSSY CHERUIYOT, HR and administration manager, iClear Wellife Service Limited 7. various of customers using water purifiers STORYLINE: Having lived in Africa for six years, Chinese entrepreneur Zhong Yanxiong is now on a mission to revolutionize water treatment by leveraging Reverse Osmosis (RO) for households and offices. The 34-year-old man is the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of iClear Wellife Service Limited, a start-up company based in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. In many areas in Kenya, a high density of minerals in water makes it salty and hard to taste. RO can remove 90 percent of the min

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Former Botswana teacher committed to helping girls overcome "period poverty"

STORY: Former Botswana teacher committed to helping girls overcome "period poverty" DATELINE: July 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:57 LOCATION: MOCHUDI, Botswana CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of school students receiving sanitary pads 2. SOUNDBITE (English): AGRIENETH MASULE, Founder of Motlaletsi Charity Club STORYLINE: "Period poverty," defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene, causes one in every 10 African girls to miss school each year, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. Without proper education and resources, girls are frequently forced to stay at home, particularly in rural areas. As a result, they miss 10-20 percent of their school days and, in some cases, completely drop out. Agrieneth Masule is determined to change this in Mochudi, a village in Kgatleng district, about 37 kilometers northeast of Botswana's capital, Gaborone. Masule, 34, runs a feminine hygiene project that raises funds for sanitary pads, which are then given to needy girl

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India's Manipur extends school vacation as COVID-19 cases rise

STORY: India's Manipur extends school vacation as COVID-19 cases rise DATELINE: July 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Indian Gate 2. various of students in India 3. various of people getting vaccinated STORYLINE: The government of India's northeastern state of Manipur on Tuesday decided to extend the summer vacations for students by a week amid rising COVID-19 cases. The schools were scheduled to reopen on Saturday after the summer vacations, but now they will be reopened on July 24, said an official order issued by the state government. "Children below 12 years of age are yet to be vaccinated, thus increasing their vulnerability to get infected by COVID-19 significantly," said the state government's order. A total of 45 people reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 during the last 24 hours in Manipur. The cases were detected among the 290 samples tested for the virus, with a positive rate of 15.5 percent. There are around 172

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UM consumer sentiment index drops in June

STORY: UM consumer sentiment index drops in June DATELINE: June 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:34 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a supermarket in New York 2. various of city views in New York STORYLINE: According to the University of Michigan (UM), the Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 50.2 in June, a 14 percent decline from May. The figure is down from 58.4 in May and below last June's 85.5. All components of the sentiment index fell this month. The steepest decline is registered in the year-ahead outlook in business conditions, down 24 percent from May. Furthermore, consumers continued to express negative views on their personal financial situation, primarily due to inflation concerns. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New York, U.S. (XHTV)