Mandarin prices surging in Japan

Mandarin prices surging in Japan

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2025, shows mandarins on sale at a vegetable store in Tokyo. Consumer price data the government released the same day showed the price of mandarins soared 37 percent in January from a year earlier.

UNCCD chief calls for joint efforts to tackle global land degradation

STORY: UNCCD chief calls for joint efforts to tackle global land degradation SHOOTING TIME: June 17, 2024 DATELINE: June 18, 2024 LENGTH: 0:03:37 LOCATION: BONN, Germany CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1.SOUNDBITE 1 (English): IBRAHIM THIAW, UNCCD Executive Secretary 2.SOUNDBITE 2 (English): IBRAHIM THIAW, UNCCD Executive Secretary 3.various of UNCCD logos and promotional materials STORYLINE: Monday marked Desertification and Drought Day 2024, as well as the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). In an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Monday in Bonn, Germany, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said that joint efforts are required to tackle challenges such as desertification and land loss. According to UNCCD statistics, about 40 percent of all land area worldwide has been degraded. Thiaw stressed that the biggest challenge is restoring the balance between increasing demands and shrinking resources. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): IBRAHIM THIAW, UNCCD

Xizang in archives: restorer of history

STORY: Xizang in archives: restorer of history SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: June 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:28 LOCATION: LHASA, China CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of staff working at the Archives of Xizang Autonomous Region 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): TAMDRIN, Restorer of the Archives of Xizang Autonomous Region STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE (Chinese): TAMDRIN, Restorer of the Archives of Xizang Autonomous Region "My name is Tamdrin. I'm a restorer at the Archives of Xizang Autonomous Region. I have worked for more than 37 years. While restoring historical archives, I also work on restoring paintings and calligraphy works. Of more than 3 million volumes of archives in our institution, over 95 percent are documented on Tibetan paper. The rescue and preservation of documents in Manchu and Mongolian languages is also a key national project. We have restored over a thousand items, including more than 300 imperial edicts and decrees. The Tea Orchid drawing is a painting personally created by Empress Dowag

Romania holds local, EU parliament elections

STORY: Romania holds local, EU parliament elections SHOOTING TIME: June 9, 2024 DATELINE: June 10, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Bucharest CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the elections STORYLINE: Around 18 million Romanians participated in the vote on Sunday to elect 33 European Parliament representatives, as well as 3,186 mayors, local and county chiefs. In Romania, approximately 15 candidates run for one seat in the European Parliament elections, according to Romania's Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP). President of the AEP Toni Grebla announced earlier that 494 candidates had registered for the European Parliament elections. Among the candidates, 167 are women, representing 33.81 percent of the total. As the European Parliamentary elections in Romania took place on the same day as the local elections, many of the candidates on the EP lists were also running for mayor or local councilor. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Bucharest. (XHTV)

Meloni boasts 60 pct decrease in illegal refugee arrivals in Italy

STORY: Meloni boasts 60 pct decrease in illegal refugee arrivals in Italy SHOOTING TIME: June 5, 2024 DATELINE: June 5, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of migrants in Rome STORYLINE: Migrant arrivals in Italy are down by 60 percent so far this year compared to the same period in 2023, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday. This trend was due to Italy's deals with North African states, the prime minister told her cabinet of ministers. Figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appear to support Meloni's claim, showing that just over 21,000 would-be asylum seekers landed in Italy over the first five months of the year. This is compared to nearly 50,400 over the same period a year earlier, representing a decrease of 58.3 percent. Meloni said the decrease was due to diplomatic deals between Italy and Tunisia and Libya, the two main points of departure for refugees seeking asylum in Italy. According to news reports

Turkish consumers' patience wears thin as inflation peaks at 75 pct

STORY: Turkish consumers' patience wears thin as inflation rate peaks at 75 pct SHOOTING TIME: June 3, 2024 DATELINE: June 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:37 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Ankara 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): SUAT ENGIN, Pensioner 3. various of Ankara 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): NILGUN OZMEN, Pensioner 5. various of Ankara 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): SELMA SONGUN, Housewife STORYLINE: With Türkiye's annualized inflation rate exceeding 75 percent in May, Turkish consumers are in desperate need of the relief promised by the government's disinflation efforts. Türkiye's inflation rate rose in May to 75.45 percent, official data revealed on Monday. That's the highest point since November 2022, and a significant jump from April's rate of 69.8 percent. "The worst is over," Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek said on X after Monday's data release. The minister sought to reassure the public that relief is in sight. "We saw the highest level of annual inflation, which refl

Turkish trade deficit widens in April as imports climb

STORY: Turkish trade deficit widens in April as imports climb SHOOTING DATE: Earlier footage DATELINE: May 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of an iron products factory in Türkiye (00:00-00:28) (date:29.04.2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 2. various of a bag factory in Türkiye (00:28-01:04) (date:12.03.2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 3. various of Türkiye's Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek (01:04-01:09) (date:29.05.2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 4. various of a fruit and vegetable packaging company in Türkiye (01:09-01:37) (date:09.05.2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) STORYLINE: Türkiye's trade deficit widened by 12.9 percent year-on-year in April to 9.9 billion U.S. dollars, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) said on Thursday. Exports edged up 0.1 percent to 19.25 billion dollars, while imports climbed 4.0 percent to 29.17 billion dollars, pushing the exports-to-imports ratio down to 66.1 percent, according to TUIK

Chinese truck enterprise expands presence in Central Asian market with tailored products

STORY: Chinese truck enterprise expands presence in Central Asian market with tailored products SHOOTING TIME: May 29, 2024 DATELINE: May 30, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: XI'AN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of downtown Xi'an 2. various of SHACMAN trucks 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HUI XIANG, Brand manager of Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Import & Export Co., Ltd., an affiliate company of SHACMAN STORYLINE: Riding the waves of deepening China-Central Asia cooperation, an increasing number of Chinese enterprises have accelerated pace to expand their market presence in five Central Asian countries, namely, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group Co., Ltd. (SHACMAN) is one of them. By introducing customized design and performance of its trucks to meet the specific needs of users, the company exported more than 7,500 heavy trucks to Central Asian countries in 2023, up 110 percent year on year. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): HUI XIANG, Brand

Putin says Russia bound to achieve goals in development

STORY: Putin says Russia bound to achieve goals in development SHOOTING TIME: May 7, 2024 DATELINE: May 7, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Kremlin 2. various of inauguration ceremony STORYLINE: Russia will overcome all obstacles and achieve its goals in development, Vladimir Putin said Tuesday when he was sworn in as Russian president. Putin secured 87.28 percent of the vote in the 2024 Russian presidential election, which took place from March 15 to 17. "We must ensure the reliable continuity in the development of the country for decades to come, raise and educate young generations, who will strengthen Russia's power and develop our statehood, which is based on interethnic harmony, and on the preservation of the traditions of all peoples living in Russia," the president said in his speech at an inauguration ceremony, according to the Kremlin. "I will do everything necessary, everything in my power to justify your trust," Putin said while addressi

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

Egypt makes airdrops of aid in Gaza

STORY: Egypt makes airdrops of aid in Gaza SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 27, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 28, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:36 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of a circulated video on social media showing airdropping aid over Gaza 2. various of trucks loaded with aid at Rafah border STORYLINE: Egyptian air forces airdropped humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV reported. The report cited a high-level security source who said the airdrops, which were participated by the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, included food and medical supplies for the besieged territory. Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Nivine El-Kabbag said on Feb. 16 that Egypt had sent nearly 200,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which accounts for 60 percent of the total relief from more than 37 countries. Israel has been attacking Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, after the militant group's surprise raid on southern Israel that killed about 1,400 people. The Israeli blockade and airstr

Egypt sends 200,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza: minister

STORY: Egypt sends 200,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza: minister SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 11, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 17, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of trucks carrying humanitarian aid 2. various of humanitarian goods STORYLINE: Egypt has sent nearly 200,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip, Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Nivine El-Kabbag said on Friday. The minister made the remarks while partaking in the "Run for Gaza" marathon in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, which attracted 10,000 participants to raise donations for the Palestinians in Gaza. El-Kabbag commended the role of the Egyptian Red Crescent for arranging the logistic services, expanding the supply chains, and storing aid received from nearly 37 countries. "About 200,000 tons of aid, constituting 60 percent of the total amount of relief supplies provided for Gaza, came from Egypt either by land, sea or air," the minister added. Is

Climate change deprives 21 mln Afghans of access to clean water: official

STORY: Climate change deprives 21 mln Afghans of access to clean water: official SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 8, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:19 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Afghans fetching water in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: Climate change and frequent years of drought have deprived 21 million Afghans, almost half of Afghanistan's population, of access to potable water, Deputy Head of Afghanistan's National Environment Program Agency (NEPA) Abdul Salam Haqqani said. "Twenty-one million people, which is half of the population of the country, face a lack of water and do not have access to drinking water," local television channel TOLOnews quoted Haqqani on Wednesday as saying. Haqqani also noted that climate change has also destroyed 3 percent of the war-torn country's forests and decreased the rainfall by 37 percent. Afghanistan has been experiencing years of drought, which led to a recession of underground water including in the national capital Kabul, as major

Italy's inflation remains low despite lifting of price controls

STORY: Italy's inflation remains low despite lifting of price controls SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 2, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of markets in Rome 2. various of gas stations in Rome STORYLINE: Italy's annual inflation rate rose to 0.8 percent in January, up from 0.6 percent in December, according to Italy's National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) on Thursday. The relatively low inflation rate in January is significant given that the month is the first since the price controls in Italy's "anti-inflation quarter" expired. The initiative artificially reduced consumer prices on a basket of basic necessities over the final three months of 2023. The government reserved the right to continue the terms of the "anti-inflation quarter" into this year but it chose not to do so. ISTAT said the main factors pushing prices in the country higher in January were transportation-related services which climbed by 4.3 percent compared to 3.7 percent in Dec

Turkish currency hits historic low against U.S. dollar

STORY: Turkish currency hits historic low against U.S. dollar SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 11, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul city in Türkiye 2. various of exchange office 3. various of Turkish Central Bank, Turkish lira 4. various of people walking on street in Istanbul, Türkiye STORYLINE: The Turkish currency hit an all-time low against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, trading at over 30 liras per dollar. One dollar was traded at 30.01 liras at 10:25 a.m. local time (0725 GMT). The Turkish currency has lost over 37 percent of its value since last year and depreciated by 1.6 percent against the dollar in the first 10 days of 2024. Murat Sagman, an economist and portfolio manager, recalled that it was only in 2013 that a dollar was worth 2 liras. Economist Duran Bulbul warned that the dollar exchange rate may move towards 40 liras soon, under such challenges as high inflation. "The greenback will first smash th

Australia to expose companies' gender pay gaps

STORY: Australia to expose companies' gender pay gaps SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 8, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of male and female employees during work STORYLINE: The Australian government will publish the gender pay gap at large companies in a bid to improve income equality. From Feb. 27, the pay discrepancies between male and female employees at every company with over 100 employees in Australia will be made available online under legislation aiming to improve pay transparency and female participation in the workforce. Katy Gallagher, the Minister for Women and Minister for Finance, on Saturday told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) that the move would hold companies accountable. According to data published by the government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) in November, the gender pay gap was 21.7 percent in 2023 - down from 22.8 percent in 2022. It means that, on average, women earned 26,393 Australian dol

Turkish currency hits record low against U.S. dollar

STORY: Turkish currency hits record low against U.S. dollar SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 2, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Turkiye CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Turkiye's central bank, Turkish lira 2. various of the Istanbul city in Turkiye 3. various of the exchange office, clerk in exchange office counting U.S. dollars in Istanbul, Turkiye 4. various of the Istanbul Stock Exchange in Turkiye STORYLINE: The Turkish currency hit an all-time low against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, trading at over 29.70 liras per dollar. After seeing 29.77 at 12:58 p.m. local time (0958 GMT) against the greenback, the lira stood at 29.74, losing around 37 percent of its value since last year. Alaattin Aktas, an economist, told Cumhuriyet Daily that the dollar exchange rate is expected to increase to around 40 liras per dollar in 2024. "If the dollar exchange rate is adjusted according to the requirements of the economy, it will increase by the rate of inflation and reach a

Record amount of green energy installed in Italy this year: data

STORY: Record amount of green energy installed in Italy this year: data SHOOTING DATE: Dec. 27, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of solar photovoltaic panels in Rome 2. various of windmill generators in Lampedusa STORYLINE: Italy installed a record amount of renewable energy this year, according to new data released on Tuesday by a monitoring group in the sector. The country installed 3.1 gigawatts of renewable energy over the first nine months of this year, a record high compared with the same period in previous years, said the Renewable Energy Sources (FER) Observatory. The total amount of new renewable energy -- enough to power around 2.5 million homes for one year -- represents an increase of 57 percent compared to the same period last year. The total amount of renewable energy produced in Italy as of Sept. 30 also increased to 63.8 gigawatts, or around 37 percent of the country's total energy needs, the Observatory said. Hydroelectr

Dutch far-right party wins landslide victory in elections

STORY: Dutch far-right party wins landslide victory in elections SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 1, 2023/earlier footage DATELINE: Dec. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:47 LOCATION: THE HAGUE, the Netherlands CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Dutch parliament complex in The Hague, the Netherlands 2. various of campaign posters near the Dutch parliament complex STORYLINE: The Netherlands' far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV) won the parliamentary elections by a landslide, the Dutch Electoral Council announced at a press conference in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday. The PVV got 37 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, or the lower house of parliament, becoming the biggest party in the country for the first time in history. The elections were held on Nov. 22 with a 77.7 percent turnout, down from 78.7 percent in 2021 and 81.9 percent in 2017. The GreenLeft-Labor alliance, GroenLinks-PvdA, ranked second with 25 seats, while the rightist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) took the

New Zealand sees annual inflation at 5.6 pct

STORY: New Zealand sees annual inflation at 5.6 pct DATELINE: Oct. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of ports 2. various of streets STORYLINE: New Zealand's consumer price index increased 5.6 percent in the 12 months to the September 2023 quarter, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Tuesday. The 5.6 percent increase follows a 6 percent increase in the 12 months to the June 2023 quarter, Stats NZ said. "Prices are still increasing, but are increasing at rates lower than we have seen in the previous few quarters," Stats NZ consumers prices senior manager Nicola Growden said. Food was the largest contributor to the September 2023 quarter annual inflation rate, Growden said, adding this was due to rising prices for ready-to-eat food; milk, cheese, and eggs; and bread and cereals. The next largest contributor to the annual increase was housing and household utilities, which was due to rising prices for construction and rents, Gro

Belt and Road brings enormous opportunities for Kyrgyzstan, says official

STORY: Belt and Road brings enormous opportunities for Kyrgyzstan, says official DATELINE: Oct. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Bishkek CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the views in Kyrgyzstan 2. SOUNDBITE (Russian): ZHALYN ZHEENALIEV, Deputy director of the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic STORYLINE: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has opened up enormous development opportunities for Kyrgyzstan, a Kyrgyz official has said. Kyrgyzstan-China relations have been developing intensively in recent decades and today they are characterized as strategic, said Zhalyn Zheenaliev, deputy director of the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. He said that over the past 10 years, the main investment partner of Kyrgyzstan has been China, and in general, 33 percent of the attracted investments came from China. SOUNDBITE (Russian): ZHALYN ZHEENALIEV, Deputy director of the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Re

Paris to ban public rental electric scooter

STORY: Paris to ban public rental electric scooter DATELINE: Aug. 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:37 LOCATION: Paris CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): Resident in Paris 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): Resident in Paris 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): Resident in Paris 4. various of streets of Paris 5. various of public rental electric scooters STORYLINE: On the streets of Paris, public rental electric scooters, which are popular with young people but also raise concerns among the elderly, are coming to an end. As of Friday, the city will ban public rental electric scooters. On April 2 this year, over 100,000 Parisians voted, with close to 90 percent voting against the continuation of the contracts between the three public rental electric scooter operators and the City of Paris, in an unprecedented citizens' vote convened by the city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo. The scooters were introduced in Paris in 2018. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): Resident in Paris "I don't think it's a good idea to eliminate electric scooters. I

Türkiye's Istanbul calls on citizens to save water amid drought

STORY: Türkiye's Istanbul calls on citizens to save water amid drought DATELINE: Aug. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul city in Türkiye 2. various of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul mayor 3. various of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) 4. various of the dams in Istanbul STORYLINE: Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of the largest Turkish city Istanbul, Wednesday called on residents to save water amid the current drought and subsequent water shortage. Warning in a statement that Istanbul's dam filling rate falls to merely 33.37 percent and the decline is continuing, Imamoglu urged the city's nearly 16 million residents to save "every precious water drop flowing from the tap." The filling rate of 10 dams supplying water to Istanbul stood at 61.87 percent in August last year, almost doubling the current rate, according to official data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI). The ISKI has recommended a list of wat

Malaysia's unemployment rate stands at 3.5 pct in May

STORY: Malaysia's unemployment rate stands at 3.5 pct in May DATELINE: July 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Malaysia's national flag and Kuala Lumpur city landscape 2. various of Kuala Lumpur City Center street views 3. various of crowds on the street STORYLINE: Malaysia saw its number of unemployed people decline further to 584,600 in May from 586,900 in April, recording an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent, official data showed Monday. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement that the labor market is seen to continue a momentum of steady growth. According to the DOSM, the number of employed persons in May increased steadily, up 0.2 percent month on month to reach 16.28 million, with the labor force continuing an upward trend. The labor force participation rate remained at 70 percent in May as in the previous month in the Southeast Asian country. The DOSM said it believed the labor market would face difficulties as the M

New Zealand GDP falls 0.1 pct in Q1 as recession starts

STORY: New Zealand GDP falls 0.1 pct in Q1 as recession starts DATELINE: June 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: AUCKLAND, New Zealand CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Auckland and harbor 2. various of Auckland's largest container terminal 3. various of Auckland's commercial streets at night STORYLINE: The New Zealand economy has signaled a recession as the gross domestic product (GDP) fell for the second quarter, according to quarterly figures released by the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday. The GDP fell 0.1 percent in the March 2023 quarter, following a 0.7 percent fall in the December 2022 quarter, Stats NZ said. The second consecutive quarter of negative economic growth signals the start of an economic recession. "Today's outcome fits the definition of a technical recession by the barest of margins," Finance Minister Grant Robertson said, adding the economy was affected by the second-largest natural disaster to hit New Zealand in the first quarter. This result reflects the impa

Japan books 13.6 bln USD current account surplus in April

STORY: Japan books 13.6 bln USD current account surplus in April DATELINE: June 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of ports in Japan 2. various of city views in Japan STORYLINE: Japan logged a current account surplus of 1.9 trillion yen (13.6 billion U.S. dollars) in April, said a government report on Thursday. According to the Finance Ministry's preliminary information, the figure, in the black for the third consecutive month, was 76.3 percent higher than in the same period last year. According to the ministry, the country saw a goods trade deficit of 113.1 billion yen and a services trade deficit of 646.5 billion yen in the recording period. Imports decreased by 4.1 percent while exports expanded 2.6 percent year on year, the preliminary data showed. The report also said that the primary income, which reflects returns on overseas investments, booked a surplus of 3.07 trillion yen. (1 U.S. dollar equals 139.94 Japanese yen) Xinhua News Agency

Economy in focus as Türkiye heads to presidential runoff

STORY: Economy in focus as Türkiye heads to presidential runoff DATELINE: May 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:37 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of presidential elections in Türkiye 2. various of people shopping in Türkiye 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): ENVER ERKAN, Chief economist At Istanbul's Dinamik Investment Securities 4. various of Turkish lira and U.S. dollar 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): ENVER ERKAN, Chief economist At Istanbul's Dinamik Investment Securities STORYLINE: As Türkiye's presidential elections are heading to a first-ever run-off, key economic challenges lie ahead. Taming inflation while maintaining monetary stability is vital for the country's economy, experts said. On Monday, Turkish voters went to the polls to elect both their president and members of parliament for a term of five years. As none of the top two candidates reached the 50-percent threshold of vote to call an outright victory, a runoff was set for May 28. The first round of ballot saw incumbent President

Chinese importer expects better development in trade between China, Ecuador

STORY: Chinese importer expects better development in trade between China, Ecuador DATELINE: May 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the signing ceremony 2. various of views in Ecuador 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHENG JIAYUAN, Managing director of Guangdong Guotong Super Cold Chain Co., Ltd. 4. various of views in the company 5. various of views in Ecuador STORYLINE: China and Ecuador signed a free trade agreement (FTA) last week to boost bilateral trade and business ties. Once the FTA goes into effect, as much as 90 percent of the goods traded between China and Ecuador will be exempted from tariffs, while 60 percent of them will enjoy zero tariffs immediately, according to the deal. A Chinese importer said he expects better development in trade between the two countries. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): ZHENG JIAYUAN, Managing director of Guangdong Guotong Super Cold Chain Co., Ltd. "We search for good-quality products worldwide to import to China. Ecuador is

Spain registers 3.3 pct inflation in March

STORY: Spain registers 3.3 pct inflation in March DATELINE: April 15, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of food markets 2. various of cars at Puerta de Alcala, center of Madrid 3. various of energetic consumption at home STORYLINE: The annual inflation in Spain stood at 3.3 percent in March, the lowest level since August 2021, according to data published by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) on Friday. However, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages continue to climb, with a 16.5 percent increase recorded in March, mainly due to increases in the cost of vegetables and meat. Meanwhile, core inflation, which doesn't include the price of unprocessed food or energy products, dropped by 0.1 percent to 7.5 percent - 4.2 points above the general rate of inflation. According to the country's Ministry for Economic Affairs, Spain has one of the lowest inflation rates in Europe. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Madrid. (XHTV)

37 pct of population displaced from Japan's Fukushima may have PTSD: survey

STORY: 37 pct of population displaced from Japan's Fukushima may have PTSD: survey DATELINE: April 4, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:38 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Fukushima 2. various of local fishermen STORYLINE: A survey of Fukushima Prefecture residents who evacuated to areas outside the prefecture following the March 2011 nuclear disaster found that nearly 40 percent of respondents may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), local media reported Monday. Waseda University and a citizens group sent questionnaires to 5,350 households mainly in the Kanto region around Tokyo who had fled from Fukushima following the nuclear disaster, and obtained responses from 516. The results indicated that 37.0 percent of the evacuees had PTSD. Behind the high rate are long-term stress factors, including memories of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, drastic changes in living environments and problems resulting from the government's p

Biden's approval rating nears lowest point of presidency: poll

STORY: Biden's approval rating nears lowest point of presidency: poll DATELINE: March 24, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Washington CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Biden arriving at the White House 2. various of exterior of the White House STORYLINE: Thirty-eight percent of the American public approve of how U.S. President Joe Biden is handling his job, according to a new poll released on Thursday. The approval rating was approaching the lowest point of Biden's presidency in surveys conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Views of how Biden is handling the national economy are more negative. Only 31 percent approve of his handling of the nation's economy compared to 68 percent who disapprove. Evaluations of Biden's approval overall and his approval on the economy remain strongly partisan. Seventy-six percent of Democrats approve of how he's handling his job as U.S. president and 63 percent approve of his handling of the economy. Republicans

New Zealand food prices up 10.3 pct in Jan.

STORY: New Zealand food prices up 10.3 pct in Jan. DATELINE: Feb. 16, 2023 LENGTH: 0:00:37 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views of Wellington 2. various of supermarkets STORYLINE: New Zealand's food prices were 10.3 percent higher in January 2023 than they were in the same period of 2022, with grocery food being the largest contributor to this movement, the statistics department Stats NZ said Tuesday. The increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories measured. Compared with January 2022, grocery food prices increased by 11 percent, restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food increased by 8.3 percent, and fruit and vegetable prices increased by 16 percent, Stats NZ said. "Increasing prices for cheddar cheese, barn or cage-raised eggs, and potato chips were the largest drivers within grocery food," Stats NZ consumer prices manager James Mitchell said. The second-largest contributor to the annual movement was restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food

Zimbabwean economy to maintain modest growth in 2023: World Bank

STORY: Zimbabwean economy to maintain modest growth in 2023: World Bank DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:37 LOCATION: Harare CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of delegates 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): STELLA ILLIEVA, World Bank Senior Economist 3. various of delegates 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): STELLA ILLIEVA, World Bank Senior Economist 5. various of delegates 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): STELLA ILLIEVA, World Bank Senior Economist 7. various of delegates STORYLINE: Zimbabwe's economy is projected to grow at a modest growth rate in 2023 against a weakening global economic growth outlook, according to the World Bank. Speaking at the Economic and Business Outlook Symposium, organized by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare on Wednesday, World Bank Senior Economist for Zimbabwe Stella Illieva said Zimbabwe's economic growth is projected to be around 3.6 percent in 2023, a slight increase from 3.4 percent recorded in 2022. Commenting on global growth projections, Il

Bank of England raises rates to 4 pct

STORY: Bank of England raises rates to 4 pct DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:37 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of England 2. various of BoE February press conference 3. various of London streets and supermarket STORYLINE: The Bank of England (BoE) raised its benchmark interest rate on Thursday by half a percentage point to 4 percent, its highest level since autumn 2008. At its meeting on Wednesday, the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted in favor of the increase by a majority of 7-2, the bank said in a statement. This is the 10th consecutive rate hike since December 2021 as the BoE continues its fight against inflation, which slowed to 10.5 percent in December 2022 from a 41-year high of 11.1 percent in October. "Global consumer price inflation remains high, although it is likely to have peaked across many advanced economies, including in the United Kingdom (UK)," the BoE said, adding that domestic inflationary pressures have been firmer than expected.

Russia's 2022 inflation rate at 11.9 pct: minister

STORY: Russia's 2022 inflation rate at 11.9 pct: minister DATELINE: Jan. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of streets and pedestrians in Moscow STORYLINE: Russia's annual inflation rate was 11.9 percent by the end of 2022, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said Wednesday. "At the end of the year, our inflation was below 12 percent, it was 11.9 percent to be exact," the Kremlin cited Reshetnikov as saying at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and government members. He also noted that according to forecasts, annual inflation would significantly decrease by the end of the first quarter in 2023, and would drop below 4 percent in the second quarter. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Moscow. (XHTV)

COVID-19 infections fall in France

STORY: COVID-19 infections fall in France DATELINE: Jan. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: LYON, France CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of a pharmacy 2. SOUNDBITE (French): ERIC HUMBERT, Pharmacist 3. various of a hospital 4. various of a person making a self-test for the COVID-19 STORYLINE: In the last week of December 2022, the infection rate of the COVID-19 cases in France fell to 421 per 100,000 inhabitants, a drop of 25 percent in one week. According to the latest report from Public Health France, the country reported 115 additional COVID-19 deaths. In addition, the number of people hospitalized fell over a week, with 7,733 hospitalizations over the last seven days, which represents a drop of 19.8 percent. French Minister of Health Francois Braun, however, spoke on Wednesday during a trip to Annecy of a "week of all dangers" for the health system due to a context of "triple epidemic" with influenza and bronchiolitis. SOUNDBITE (French): ERIC HUMBERT, Pharmacist "We apprehend the ep

China-Arab cooperation to make new breakthroughs: scholar

STORY: China-Arab cooperation to make new breakthroughs: scholar DATELINE: Dec. 8, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:57 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China-Arab cooperation projects 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LIU XINLU, Dean of School of Arabic Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University STORYLINE: A Chinese scholar says China-Arab cooperation will make new breakthroughs in many aspects. In the past few years, China-Arab relations in the new era have shown great vitality and seen constant progress, which has also bolstered the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LIU XINLU, Dean of School of Arabic Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University "We know that China-Arab economic and trade ties are very important. In terms of trade and investment, the trade volume of the two sides has grown by 37 percent year-on-year to around 330 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. I believe the cooperation will make new breakthroughs in many aspects. We are looking for

Malaysia's general election: over 200,000 early voters cast ballots

STORY: Malaysia's general election: over 200,000 early voters cast ballots DATELINE: Nov. 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Malaysia's national flag 2. various of police officers queuing up for their turn to cast their ballots 3. various of police officers casting their votes in the early voting of Malaysia's 15th General Election (GE15) 4. various of police officers showing their inked fingers to the camera after casting their votes STORYLINE: The early voting process for Malaysia's 15th General Election (GE15) took place on Nov. 15 nationwide, specifically for security forces personnel and their spouses to perform their civic duty. In a statement on Tuesday, Malaysia's Election Commission (EC) secretary Ikmalrudin Ishak said 94.72 percent of total registered early voters, or 212,961 individuals, have casted their ballots as early voters in the GE15. The polling day has been set for Nov. 19, and the general election will see candidates vying for

Food volume down in low-income countries as global food import rises: FAO

STORY: Food volume down in low-income countries as global food import rises: FAO DATELINE: Nov. 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization 2. A shot of FAO Food Outlook report 3. various of farmland STORYLINE: The global bill for food imports is estimated to come in at 1.94 trillion U.S. dollars this year, according to information released Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The figure is the highest ever recorded for this data point, and around 10 percent higher than in 2021, the FAO said. However, despite the dramatic rise in the global food import bill, the FAO said the rate of increase is likely to slow down going forward. This is due to rising global food prices that are making countries more dependent on domestic production, and a trend that is seeing most currencies depreciating against the U.S. dollar, the baseline currency for calculations. The FAO said most

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

GLOBALink | Energy crisis in Poland features coal price hike, stirs air pollution concerns

*** Highlights: As winter approaches, the European energy crisis is having a direct impact on home heating in Poland, a country that relies heavily on coal for energy. #GLOBALink *** Subtitles & Soundbites: As winter approaches, the European energy crisis is having a direct impact on home heating in Poland, a country that relies heavily on coal for energy. According to official estimates, even under normal circumstances, 37 percent of Polish homes use coal for heating. While Poland is the largest coal producer in the European Union (EU), it still needs to cover roughly 20 percent of its needs from imports. Data from Statistics Poland show that in 2020, Russia accounted for 75 percent of Polish coal imports. However, since Poland imposed an embargo on Russian coal this April, well ahead of the EU-wide ban that took effect in August, this route is no longer open, which has left many Poles in a precarious situation just before the start of the heating season. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOANNA MACKOWIAK-PANDER

Malta to spend over 500 mln euros to tackle rising energy costs

STORY: Malta to spend over 500 mln euros to tackle rising energy costs DATELINE: Oct. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Valletta CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Finance Minister Clyde Caruana presenting 2023 budget speech to President Vella in San Anton Palace in Attard 2. various of Finance Minister Clyde Caruana reading out the budget for 2023 in Parliament in Valletta 3. various of press conference in Valletta STORYLINE: Malta plans to spend 508 million euros (501.4 million U.S. dollars) in 2023 to ease the impacts of the rising energy costs, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday. In Malta's 2023 budget plan unveiled by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana on Monday, energy expenditures account for 9.3 percent of the government's recurrent expenditure. Tax cuts would have saved families with two working adults 510 euros (503.4 dollars) a year, Caruana said, while subsidizing energy costs will save them electricity costs and car fuel. Among the measures announced were a living grant of

Machinery cotton pickers replace manual labor in China's Xinjiang

STORY: Machinery cotton pickers replace manual labor in China's Xinjiang DATELINE: Oct. 11, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of cotton-pickers in the fields STORYLINE: China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has ushered in its cotton harvest season. According to the regional government, more than 7,000 cotton-picking machines have been put into service in Xinjiang. The overall mechanized rate of cotton-picking this year is expected to exceed 80 percent. Xinjiang is China's largest cotton-producing region. Cotton output in Xinjiang topped 5.1 million tonnes in 2021, accounting for about 90 percent of the country's total. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China. (XHTV)

Inflation slows in Sept. in France

STORY: Inflation slows in Sept. in France DATELINE: Oct. 11, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Paris CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of customers in a French store 2. various of prices and products in a store 3. various of a retail store STORYLINE: France saw the prices rise by 5.6 percent in September on a year-on-year basis, after increases of 5.9 percent in August and 6.1 percent in July, according to French national statistics institute. This decline in inflation is due to the slowdown in the price rise in energy and service (tariff shield on gas, reductions in fuel prices, etc.), the National Institute of Statistics explained in a press release, while the increase in food prices is accelerating. According to figures from the analysis firm IRI France, the prices of consumer products have increased, in one year, by 9.11 percent. In August, inflation rates stood at 7.9 percent in Germany, 9.1 percent in Italy and 9.9 percent in the UK. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Paris.

Exhibitors eye opportunities at China-ASEAN Expo as record number of deals made

STORY: Exhibitors eye opportunities at China-ASEAN Expo as record number of deals made DATELINE: Sept. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:05 LOCATION: NANNING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZENG YI, Guangxi MAYI Imported Goods Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LISY LEE, Chairman, Malaysia's Petronas China branch 4. various of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo STORYLINE: The 19th China-ASEAN Expo concluded on Monday in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with a record number of deals made. A total of 267 domestic and international deals have been signed, with an investment of over 400 billion yuan (about 57 billion U.S. dollars), up 37 percent compared to last year. Exhibitors attending the expo expressed their confidence in the trade opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement. 　 SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZENG YI, Guangxi MAYI Imported Goods

China's Guangxi beefs up regional integration with ASEAN countries

STORY: China's Guangxi beefs up regional integration with ASEAN countries DATELINE: Sept. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:52 LOCATION: NANNING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of the China-ASEAN Expovarious of NanningSOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DAI SONGLI, General manager of Guangxi State Farms Mingyang Starch Development Co. Ltd.various of companiesSOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO HUI, General manager assistant of Guangxi Tus-Innovation Cross Border E-Commerce Co., Ltd.SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): HUANG JIANGNAN, Official with Qinzhou Port East Station of Guangxi Yanhai Railway Company Limitedvarious of container ports and trains STORYLINE: The 19th China-ASEAN Expo concluded on Monday in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with a record number of deals made. A total of 267 domestic and international deals have been signed, with an investment of over 400 billion yuan (about 57 billion U.S. dollars), up 37 percent compared to last year. Guangxi has become an important window for e

Exhibitors at China-ASEAN Expo hail opportunities brought by RCEP

STORY: Exhibitors at China-ASEAN Expo hail opportunities brought by RCEP DATELINE: Sept. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:06 LOCATION: NANNING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI WUQIANG, Sales director, Shanghai office of Trung Nguyen Legend 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI YAN, Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): ZENG YI, Guangxi Mayi Imported Goods Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd STORYLINE: Many exhibitors attending the 19th China-ASEAN Expo said they will seize the opportunities brought by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The four-day expo concluded on Monday in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A total of 267 domestic and international deals have been signed, with an investment of over 400 billion yuan (about 57 billion U.S. dollars), up 37 percent compared to last year. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI WUQIANG, Sales director, Shanghai office of Trung N

India's wholesale inflation eases to 12.41 pct in August

STORY: India's wholesale inflation eases to 12.41 pct in August DATELINE: Sept. 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. Shots of India gate 2. Shots of wholesale market 3. Shots of fuel station 4. Shots of supermarket for food item STORYLINE: India's wholesale price index (WPI) eased to 12.41 percent in August, the federal ministry of commerce and industry said on Wednesday. "The annual rate of inflation based on All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 12.41 percent (provisional) for the month of August 2022 (over August 2021). WPI-based inflation was 13.93 percent in July 2022," the ministry said in a statement. "Inflation in August 2022 is primarily contributed by the rise in prices of mineral oils, food articles, crude petroleum and natural gas, basic metals, chemicals and chemical products, electricity, food products, etc., as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year," the statement said. According to the ministry, the month-over-month

Grape harvest season in Malta

STORY: Grape harvest season in Malta DATELINE: Aug. 27, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:37 LOCATION: Valletta CATEGORY: AGRICULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. people harvesting grapes in a vineyard in Mosta, Malta STORYLINE: Malta's grape harvest season has come. Around 90 percent of harvested grapes are expected to be used to make quality wines, according to Maltese media. Malta also grows its native varieties of quality grapes and produces native wines. Malta is one of the smallest wine-producing countries in the world, but it has a long history of wine production. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Valletta. (XHTV)

Extremely hot weather, humidity continue to prevail across much of Egypt

STORY: Extremely hot weather, humidity continue to prevail across much of Egypt DATELINE: July 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Egypt STORYLINE: The Egyptian Meteorological Agency (EMA) predicts that most parts of Egypt will continue to be extremely hot and humid. From Thursday to next Tuesday, Cairo is witnessing high temperatures of 35 to 37 degrees Celsius that may feel like 37 to 40 degrees due to humidity. During the same period, average humidity levels in Cairo will range between 30 to 40 percent during the day and 75 to 80 percent at night, EMA added. According to the EMA, the North Coast will see highs of 31 to 32 degrees Celsius that will feel like 31 to 33 degrees. The average humidity rates will range between 55 to 60 percent throughout the day and 90 to 95 percent at night. Meanwhile, for Upper Egypt, temperatures will go up to highs of 42 to 43 degrees Celsius which may feel like 43 to 44 degrees. Many say the heat waves co