Industrial production costs fall in Italy for 6th consecutive month

STORY: Industrial production costs fall in Italy for 6th consecutive month SHOOTING DATE: May 30, 2024 DATELINE: May 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of streets in Rome STORYLINE: Industrial producer prices in Italy fell for the sixth consecutive month, the country's statistics entity reported Thursday, due largely to continued decreases in energy costs. The Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) said that prices for industrial producers fell by 0.9 percent in April compared to the previous month. Costs were 5.9 percent below their levels from a year earlier. The trend represents a marked turn-around from 2022 and early 2023, when the key index rose nearly every month and when year-on-year increases regularly topped 30 percent due to the spike in energy prices. Overall inflation in Italy has fallen dramatically since October 2023. This decline has been broadly in line with the drop in producer prices. Still, the rate of decrease in producer

Italy's economy performs well but slowdown expected: IMF

STORY: Italy's economy performs well but slowdown expected: IMF SHOOTING TIME: May 21, 2024 DATELINE: May 22, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of stores in Rome STORYLINE: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday said that while Italy had good recoveries from economic shocks in recent years, the economy's prospects were only "moderate" going forward. In its annual Staff Concluding Statement, the IMF said that Italy recovered from the back-to-back shocks of the coronavirus pandemic and the spike in energy prices sparked by the Ukraine crisis and that as of the end of the first quarter of this year, its economy was 4.5 percent larger than before the pandemic -- "a stronger performance than in other large euro-area countries," the IMF said in a statement. That growth, the fund said, was fueled by a recovery in tourism, tax credits, and projects funded by European Union (EU) pandemic recovery loans and grants. But the IMF said Italy was unlikely to

Modern agricultural machinery widely used in Xizang

STORY: Modern agricultural machinery widely used in Xizang SHOOTING TIME: March 16, 2024 DATELINE: March 24, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: LHASA, China CATEGORY: AGRICULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of modern agricultural machinery being used in Xizang 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): NORBU DROOGDRA, Director of Bureau of agriculture and rural affairs in Doilungdeqen district of Lhasa STORYLINE: Spring farming, which is crucial to ensuring grain harvest, is underway in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. In the 1970s, tractors were first introduced to the rural areas of Xizang. Now, modern agricultural machinery has been widely used in the fields here. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): NORBU DROOGDRA, Director of Bureau of agriculture and rural affairs in Doilungdeqen district of Lhasa "Currently, the full mechanization rate on agricultural production in our district has reached 88 percent. Our goal is to harvest all large farmlands with big machinery, and harvest small farmlands with crawler-type machinery. We are try

Japan's 2023 core inflation hits 41-year high

STORY: Japan's 2023 core inflation hits 41-year high SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 19, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 19, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of cities in Japan STORYLINE: Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.1 pct in 2023 from the previous year, marking the fastest growth in 41 years, the government said in a report on Friday. The core consumer price index (CPI) for the year, excluding fresh food prices because of their volatility, came in at 105.2 against the 2020 base of 100, with its pace of increase fastening from 2.3 percent in 2022, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The yearly increase, which remained above the Bank of Japan's 2 percent inflation target for the second consecutive year, marked the highest level since 1983. It came despite government subsidies to lower household utility bills, underscoring higher import costs that were inflated by a sharp drop of the yen, a byproduct of the Bank of Japan's monetary easing,

Poll says most Filipinos worry about rising prices

STORY: Poll says most Filipinos worry about rising prices SHOOTING DATE: Jan. 8, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:49 LOCATION: Manila CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Manila 2. various of a gas station in Manila 3. various of a supermarket in Manila STORYLINE: Inflation is the most urgent concern of Filipino adults, according to a national survey released on Monday. Pulse Asia Research Inc. said in its poll conducted in December last year that 72 percent of the 1,200 respondents identify inflation as an urgent issue that needs to be immediately addressed by the government. Out of the 16 issues presented to the respondents, controlling inflation "is the only issue considered as urgent by most adults," the survey said. Increasing the pay of workers is the second most often-mentioned urgent national concern, followed by creating more jobs, reducing poverty, as well as fighting graft and corruption in government, the poll showed. Year-on-year inflation in the Philippines decel

Türkiye raises minimum wage by 49 pct for 2024

STORY: Türkiye raises minimum wage by 49 pct for 2024 SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 27, 2023/File DATELINE: Dec. 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:32 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the meeting (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): VEDAT ISIKHAN, Turkish Labor and Social Security Minister (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 3. various of factories in Türkiye 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): VEDAT ISIKHAN, Turkish Labor and Social Security Minister (courtesy of ihlas news agency) STORYLINE: Türkiye decided to ramp up the monthly minimum wage by 49 percent to 17,002 Turkish liras (578.4 U.S. dollars) starting the first day of 2024, the country's Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Isikhan announced Wednesday. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): VEDAT ISIKHAN, Turkish Labor and Social Security Minister "With this figure, the net minimum wage has increased by 49 percent compared to the previous period and by 100 percent cumulatively compared to the previous year." The country's Minimum Wage Determ

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

Australians driving less amid rising fuel prices: poll

STORY: Australians driving less amid rising fuel prices: poll SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 22, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of petrol stations 2. various of bus 3. various of people walking 4. various of electronic cars STORYLINE: A majority of Australians are driving less amid a rise in fuel prices, a poll has found. According to the survey, which was published by independent NGO the Climate Council on Wednesday, 71 percent of Australians have taken steps to reduce their driving expenses in response to petrol prices, including driving less, cutting back on vehicle maintenance and avoiding taking holidays using their car. The Australian Bureau of Statistics in October identified rising automotive fuel costs as the biggest driver of inflation, with prices rising by an average of 7.2 percent in the third quarter of 2023 between July and September. A majority of respondents to the Climate Council survey, 54 percent said they believe

Public excitement in Indonesia grows high towards Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train

STORY: Public excitement in Indonesia grows high towards Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 17, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 19, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of passengers 2. SOUNDBITE (Indonesian): MASNI SARAGIH, Local resident STORYLINE: The services of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) in Indonesia, locally known as Whoosh, have brought lots of joy for the public in the world's fourth-largest populous nation since it was officially launched about a month ago. According to PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese state-owned firms that constructs and runs the HSR, trains have carried about 383,000 passengers on the railway since the commercial operation started, with the highest daily occupancy rate reaching 98.7 percent. The public enthusiasm was so high that KCIC needed to intensify the travel schedule up to 28 trips per weekday and 36 trips per day on weeken

Hong Kong records over 1 mln mainland visitors during double festivals holiday

STORY: Hong Kong records over 1 mln mainland visitors during double festivals holiday DATELINE: Oct. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: HONG KONG, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourism in Hong Kong, China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MR. WU, Tourist 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): MR. ZHANG, Tourist 4. various of fireworks and light show STORYLINE: The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government recorded 1.1 million mainland visitors during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday. Official data showed that the daily average visitors from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6 was around 140,000, 10 percent higher than the figure during the Labor Day Holiday Golden Week. The overall hotel occupancy rate reached 90 percent, the HKSAR government said in a press release on Saturday. Among the mainland visitors visited Hong Kong, 45 percent of them were overnight visitors. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): MR. WU, Tourist "It takes 16 to 18 minutes from Shenzhen North t

Modular high-rise buildings built in China's Shenzhen

STORY: Modular high-rise buildings built in China's Shenzhen DATELINE: July 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: SHENZHEN, China CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the concrete modular high-rise buildings 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): CEN YAN, Shenzhen Housing and Construction Bureau STORYLINE: Five over 100-meter-high apartment buildings were built within one year using modular construction technology in Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province. The concrete buildings were assembled with 6,028 standard modular units that were made in a factory. The modules were transported to the site with all the electric and internal finishes completed. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): CEN YAN, Shenzhen Housing and Construction Bureau "According to our preliminary calculation, modular construction can help reduce 75 percent of construction waste." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shenzhen, China. (XHTV)

Erdogan wins Türkiye's presidential election

STORY: Erdogan wins Türkiye's presidential election DATELINE: May 29, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:49 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1 various of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan casting vote 2 various of the polling stations 3 SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): AHMET YENER, Turkish Supreme Election Council Chairman 4 SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish President 5 various of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 6 various of streets views STORYLINE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was declared the winner of the country's presidential runoff on Sunday, sending him to another five years in office. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): AHMET YENER, Turkish Supreme Election Council Chairman "196,744 ballot boxes, or 99.43 percent of the total, have been opened. Recep Tayyip Erdogan garnered 52.14 percent of the votes. Kemal Kilicdaroglu garnered 47.86 percent of the votes. According to initial results, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is re-elected." SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN

Malawi reduces malaria deaths by 49 percent despite challenges ahead

STORY: Malawi reduces malaria deaths by 49 percent despite challenges ahead DATELINE: April 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:14 LOCATION: Lilongwe CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of insecticide-treated bed-nets 2. various of World Malaria Day 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NEEMA KIMAMBO, WHO Malawi representative 4. various of World Malaria Day 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NEEMA KIMAMBO, WHO Malawi representative 6. various of World Malaria Day 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): HALIMA DAUDI, Deputy Minister of Health of Malawi STORYLINE: Malawi has reduced malaria deaths by about 49 percent from 3,613 in 2017 to 1,829 in 2022, Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi said on Tuesday in the capital of Lilongwe as the country marked World Malaria Day. But the deputy minister said although the country has made such strides, malaria continues to create a huge workload for health workers and pressure on drugs at all health facilities. She said the disease contributes to 19 percent of all out-patient cases and nine percent of al

Lebanese celebrate Ramadan amid dire economic conditions

STORY: Lebanese celebrate Ramadan amid dire economic conditions DATELINE: April 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: Beirut CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of gatherings in Sidon 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ABDEL RAHMAN BADIH, Kiosk owner 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ABDEL RAHMAN BADIH, Kiosk owner STORYLINE: Hundreds of Lebanese attend the daily gatherings in an old market in Sidon, a city in southern Lebanon, to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. However, the financial crisis in the country has forced people to cut down their spending and focus on basic needs. Abdel Rahman Badih, the owner of a kiosk of Katayef, a popular Arabic sweet, said business has not been going well since the crisis, stating that low salaries of citizens impacted their purchasing power. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ABDEL RAHMAN BADIH, Kiosk owner "There are no foreigners like before, and no activity like before. You can see, there is only 25 percent of the activity witnessed in the past, the 75 percent is gone. See the difference? Bec

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

Australian cash rate hits record-high 3.6 pct since May 2012

STORY: Australian cash rate hits record-high 3.6 pct since May 2012 DATELINE: March 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: SYDNEY, Australia CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sydney 2. various of the Reserve Bank of Australia STORYLINE: The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to lift the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 3.6 percent, while the interest rate on Exchange Settlement balances jumped by 25 basis points to 3.5 percent. This is the 10th consecutive rate hike since May of last year when the RBA announced the first 25-basis-point increase. The central bank's new decision for a 25-basis-point lift also took the cash rate to its highest level since May 2012. Following an RBA board meeting on Tuesday, the bank's Governor Philip Lowe said in a statement that high inflation makes life difficult for people and damages the functioning of the economy. "And if high inflation were to become entrenched in people's expectations, it would be very costly to reduce later, involving even higher

Indonesia to provide incentives for EV purchases

STORY: Indonesia to provide incentives for EV purchases DATELINE: March 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of press conference 2. various of Indonesian traffic 3. various of fuel queue in Pertamina 4. various of electric vehicles 5. SOUNDBITE (Bahasa Indonesia): LUHUT PANDJAITAN, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs STORYLINE: The Indonesian government will provide incentives for purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) starting March 20, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday. "We hope that this policy can stimulate the market for EVs, boost the use of clean energy and decrease reliance on fossil fuels," said Pandjaitan in a press conference. SOUNDBITE (Bahasa Indonesia): LUHUT BINSAR PANDJAITAN, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs "Our target is 10 percent of the population will have used electric vehicles by the next year. If we already secure the 10 percent, i

Over 1,800 athletes race in ironman triathlon at New Zealand's Lake Taupo

STORY: Over 1,800 athletes race in ironman triathlon at New Zealand's Lake Taupo DATELINE: March 5, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:56 LOCATION: TAUPO, New Zealand CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of athletes competing in two ironman triathlon races STORYLINE: More than 1,800 athletes from 54 countries and regions competed in two ironman triathlon races in the hot sun, both held on Saturday inside and around New Zealand's Lake Taupo, the largest freshwater lake in Australasia. Ironman New Zealand sees athletes take on a 3.8 km swim starting and finishing on the shores of Lake Taupo, a 180 km ride taking in the rural landscape surrounding Taupo, and a 42.2 km run along the lakefront. In the half-distance edition, athletes will swim 1.9 km, bike 90 km, and run 21.1 km. International competitors make up 49 percent of the Ironman New Zealand field, traveling to New Zealand from 54 countries and regions. New Zealand's Mike Phillips claimed the men's overall champion of the full distance in 7:56:05, while Dutch athle

China's autos reach more overseas consumers with growing popularity

STORY: China's autos reach more overseas consumers with growing popularity DATELINE: Feb. 18, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of vehicles production 2. various of the exhibition 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JENS OLESEN, Managing Director of Xpeng Denmark 4. various of Xpeng vehicles 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MARK ANDREW TIENG, Managing Director of BYD Philippines 6. various of BYD vehicles 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): YEHYA SHANTI, Sales manager of Changan in Jordan STORYLINE: China's automobiles are gaining popularity and reaching more consumers overseas, with an export of 3.11 million units in 2022, a jump of 54.4 percent year on year. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, passenger car exports neared 2.53 million units, an increase of 56.7 percent year on year. Exports of commercial vehicles climbed 44.9 percent from 2021 to 582,000 units, and exports of new-energy vehicles increased 1.2 times year on year to 679,000 units. The associat

China's shipbuilders catch wind to sail on far better journey

STORY: China's shipbuilders catch wind to sail on far better journey DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:44 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China's shipbuilders 2. various of vessels 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHANG JUNDE, Deputy general manager, Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI JIMING, Project manager of VLCC, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. STORYLINE: China remained the world's leading shipbuilder in 2022, grabbing the largest market share and making breakthroughs in high-end ship models. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed the country topped the globe in three major indicators, contributing 47.3 percent of global output, receiving 55.2 percent of new orders, and having 49 percent of holding orders. China's shipbuilders have also taken strategic moves to snatch the high-end market. Huanghai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., based in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong, is building 50 vessels of various types, with co

Türkiye, Montenegro vow to boost cooperation

STORY: Türkiye, Montenegro vow to boost cooperation DATELINE: Dec. 31, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the meeting 2. various of the press conference STORYLINE: The presidents of Türkiye and Montenegro on Friday discussed bilateral and regional cooperation and pledged to boost ties in Istanbul. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a joint press conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic that the two countries share a special bond and there are over 150,000 Turkish citizens with Montenegrin roots. The Turkish leader said that the trade volume between the two countries reached a record 182 million U.S. dollars, increasing by 49 percent in the first 11 months of 2022 compared to the same period last year. Erdogan noted that Türkiye fully encourages and supports Montenegro's bid to join the European Union (EU). For his part, Djukanovic said the two countries should tap the potential in a wide range of areas, including e

Fresh food prices in Spain remain high as Christmas draws near

STORY: Fresh food prices in Spain remain high as Christmas draws near DATELINE: Dec. 17, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Barcelona 2. various of a market in Barcelona 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): ANTONIO CRUZ, Manager of a delicatessen 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Catalan): MONICA LAZARO, Manager of a fishmongers 5. various of street view in Barcelona 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Spanish): ALEJANDRINA BRUNO, Barcelona resident 7. various of shops along the street in Barcelona 8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Catalan): NURIA ARNAU, Board member of the Barna Centre retailers' association 9. various of shops in Barcelona STORYLINE: Fresh food prices in Spain remain high as Christmas draws near. Although Spain's inflation rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in November, food prices remained high, rising 15.3 percent to keep them at record levels since 1994, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). According to data from the INE for November, the pric

GM to boost stake in Isuzu

GM to boost stake in Isuzu

Kazuhira Seki, chairman of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd.(R), and J.F. Smith, chairman of General Motors Corp. (GM) of the United States, shake hands at a hotel in Tokyo on Dec. 18 after agreeing to strengthen the two companies' ties. Under the accord, GM will increase its stake in Isuzu to 49 percent from the current 37.5 percent.

China's Heilongjiang sees endangered species recover under conservation efforts

STORY: China's Heilongjiang sees endangered species recover under conservation efforts DATELINE: Nov. 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:07 LOCATION: HARBIN, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of wild birds 2. various of forests in China's Heilongjiang STORYLINE: At Hailang River in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, dozens of Chinese merganser ducks are preparing for their migration south. Chinese merganser ducks, or scaly-sided mergansers, are an endangered species under class-one state protection. The species is also listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In recent years, the province has beefed up measures to restore forests, wetlands and other ecosystems. China Longjiang Forest Industry Group Co., Ltd., which takes care of over 14.5 percent of Heilongjiang's total land area, has established 49 nature reserves with a total area of 2,561,300 hectares. Thanks to these efforts, the local population of Chinese mergansers has grown from around a dozen

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni becomes Italy's first woman PM

STORY: Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni becomes Italy's first woman PM DATELINE: Oct. 22, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Quirinale Presidential Palace 2. various of President Sergio Mattarella speaking 3. various of Giorgia Meloni announcing the list of the new government STORYLINE: Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right populist Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, became Italy's first woman prime minister on Friday. The official announcement came after she met with the country's President, Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinale Presidential Palace in the afternoon. Meloni received the mandate to form a new cabinet less than a month after her victory in the country's snap election on Sept. 25. Her new cabinet, which will include 22 ministers, will be sworn in on Saturday, Ugo Zampetti, secretary general of the Presidency of the Republic, told reporters. Meloni's FdI party won 26 percent of the vote in September, and she will now lead the country in a right-wing

China's Canton Fair opens online with record exhibits

STORY: China's Canton Fair opens online with record exhibits DATELINE: Oct. 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Canton Fair STORYLINE: The 132nd session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off online Saturday, with a record number of exhibits. Themed "Facilitating Dual Circulation," the event has attracted over 35,500 domestic and overseas exhibitors, including 34,744 export-oriented companies, a 40-percent increase from the previous session. The biannual fair offers a variety of online activities such as exhibitions, business exchanges and product launches. It showcases more than 3.06 million exhibits, including over 130,000 smart products and more than 500,000 green and low-carbon products. To better boost foreign trade and stabilize the global supply chain, this session of Canton Fair extends its service time from ten days to five months. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Guangzhou, Chin

China's industrial profits down 2.1 pct in first 8 months

STORY: China's industrial profits down 2.1 pct in first 8 months DATELINE: Sept. 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the industrial production in China STORYLINE: Official data showed on Tuesday that the profits of China's major industrial firms fell 2.1 percent year on year in the first eight months of 2022. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said that industrial firms each with annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.83 million U.S. dollars) saw their combined profits reach 5.53 trillion yuan in the period. The data showed that the combined revenues of these firms sustained a quicker growth pace during the period, rising 8.4 percent year on year to 87.89 trillion yuan. A total of 16 out of 41 major industries saw growth in profits in the January-August period. The electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing sector saw profits jump 20.9 percent year on year and the profits of the manufacturing of chemical raw materia

UN chief calls for efforts to close 3 major gaps to end COVID-19 pandemic

STORY: UN chief calls for efforts to close 3 major gaps to end COVID-19 pandemic DATELINE: Sept. 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of conference room 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General 3. wide shot of conference room 4. various of delegates applauding 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General 6. various of delegates STORYLINE: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for efforts to close three major gaps to end the COVID-19 pandemic. He made the appeal at a high-level event on ending the pandemic. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General "First, we must close the booster gap. Vaccine booster coverage remains low everywhere. But low-income countries, in particular, are still struggling, with only 35 percent of healthcare workers and 31 percent of older populations fully vaccinated and boosted. Our top priority continues to be getting vaccines into arms. T

Spain's hydroelectric plant stops as reservoir water level drops below 7 pct

STORY: Spain's hydroelectric plant stops operation as reservoir water level drops below 7 pct DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:01 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Rialb hydroelectric plant 2. various of reservoirs in the region of Catalonia suffering severe drought 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Catalan): JORDI MOLIST, Director of the water supply area, ACA 4. various of the El Pintado reservoir 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Catalan): JORDI MOLIST, Director of the water supply area, ACA 6. various of a river crossing the city of Girona STORYLINE: The hydroelectric plant of Rialb in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia has been stopped for the first time after the reservoir's water level fell below 7 percent. It is a sign of the ongoing drought affecting water reserves in Spain. The reservoir's water level stood at 49 percent of its capacity a year ago. Since the beginning of the year, in the region of Catalonia alone, the production of hydroelectric energy has fallen by an average of

Police violence against minorities not uncommon in U.S.: Chinese FM spokesperson

STORY: Police violence against minorities not uncommon in U.S.: Chinese FM spokesperson DATELINE: July 5, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:54 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE (English interpretation): ZHAO LIJIAN, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson STORYLINE: "Police violence in law enforcement against minorities is not uncommon in the U.S.," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday. SOUNDBITE (English interpretation): ZHAO LIJIAN, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson "I'm shocked by the incident. Police violence in law enforcement against minorities is not uncommon in the U.S. According to statistics, since 2020, U.S. police has killed 2,563 people in law enforcement, among which 565 are black people, accounting for over 22 percent. Since the beginning of this year alone, 49 black people were shot and killed by the police in the U.S. From the heinous slave trade, expulsion and slaughtering of Indian Americans in history to the dreadful conditions, and miserable sufferings

Growth of foreign arrivals in Turkey exceeds 300 pct in May

STORY: Growth of foreign arrivals in Turkey exceeds 300 pct in May DATELINE: June 21, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:35 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people in mall and scenic spots of Turkey STORYLINE: Turkey has received around 3.82 million foreign arrivals in May, surged by 308 percent year-on-year, the country's Culture and Tourism Ministry said on Monday. During the first five months of 2022, Turkey hosted a total of 12.7 million foreign arrivals, up by 207 percent comparing with the same period last year, according to official data. Most foreign arrivals are registered in Istanbul, Antalya, Edirne, Mugla and Artvin. Meanwhile, Germany ranked first in sending more tourists to Turkey in the first five months of the year, which increased by 367 percent, followed by Bulgaria, 334 percent, and Russia, 49 percent. Turkey's crucial tourism industry has been recovering since the country eased health measures in 2021, but the number of foreign arrivals still falls behind May 2

Glass used on China's Shenzhou-14 spaceship

STORY: Glass used on China's Shenzhou-14 spaceship DATELINE: June 9, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: SHIJIAZHUANG, China CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: various of China's crewed spaceship Shenzhou-14various of the glass made for Shenzhou-14 STORYLINE: China's crewed spaceship Shenzhou-14 was launched on Sunday. The external window panes of the spaceship have to withstand the extreme environment of outer space. They were formed by 80 special pieces of glass developed by a Qinhuangdao-based manufacturer, in north China's Hebei province. Made of quartz, the glasses have to go through dozens of processes before becoming special glasses used in space. According to the manufacturer, the glasses need to withstand the high temperature of 1,000 degrees Celcius, drastic temperature fluctuations and endure large doses of radiation while maintaining more than 95 percent of visible-light transmittance. China's crewed spaceship Shenzhou-14 launched on Sunday sent three astronauts to its space station combination for

Thai farmers gear up for China's growing appetite for durians

STORY: Thai farmers gear up for China's growing appetite for durians DATELINE: May 19, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:49 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of durians being harvested and packaged 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Thai): SILAPHON THONGROT, Owner of the Miiw's durian orchard in Thailand 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Thai): NUTTAKIJ ORANHIRUNRUK, Vice president of the Thai-Chinese Agribusiness Association 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Thai): SILAPHON THONGROT, Owner of the Miiw's durian orchard in Thailand STORYLINE: Silaphon Thongrot's orchard in Chanthaburi province, a province dubbed the "fruit capital of Thailand," is home to hundreds of durian trees. Dozens of durian fruits have been on each tree, heralding a good harvest this year. Most of the fruits in Silaphon's orchard will go to the Chinese market after they are harvested. SOUNDBITE 1 (Thai): SILAPHON THONGROT, Owner of the Miiw's durian orchard in Thailand "Almost 100 percent of our durians are shipped to China. The most popular one in China is Monthong, which is

Peruvian expert urges strict observance of anti-epidemic measures after mask restrictions eased

STORY: Peruvian expert urges strict observance of anti-epidemic measures after mask restrictions eased DATELINE: May 5, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: Lima CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Peru 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): GUSTAVO GRANDEZ, Medical researcher at National University at San Marcos in Peru STORYLINE: Peruvians should continue to be responsible in terms of safety measures against COVID-19, following the loosening of the mask mandate in the country starting this May, medical expert Gustavo Grandez warns. This loosening of requirements will take place in regions in which more than 80 percent of the population has received three vaccine doses. The first localities that reached this requirement were metro Lima, the Lima provinces, the province Callao, Ancash and Ica. The doctor and researcher at the Center of Technological, Biomedical and Environmental Investigation at the National University of San Marcos said that, in this sense, Peruvians should maintain social distancing,

Rising fuel prices push people in Cambodian capital to use public transport

STORY: Rising fuel prices push people in Cambodian capital to use public transport DATELINE: April 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:06:07 LOCATION: Phnom Penh CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of city bus station in Phnom Penh 2. various of passengers waiting for city bus at a bus stop 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Khmer): SUON SAM ATH, bus driver 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Khmer): EAM SAVUTH, passenger 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Khmer): SOK SAVOEUN, passenger STORYLINE: Many people in the capital city of Cambodia have shifted to using public transport as oil prices have soared since the Russia-Ukraine conflict burst out. Regular gasoline cost 5,150 riel (1.27 U.S. dollars) per liter on Thursday, while diesel cost 5,500 riel (1.36 dollars), according to the Ministry of Commerce's oil price list. The figures indicated that the prices of regular petrol and diesel rose 9.5 percent and 23.5 percent respectively compared to the prices dated in mid-February. Suon Sam Ath, a 49-year-old driver for the Phnom Penh City Bus Authority, said man

Turkish houses sell like hotcakes amid high inflation

STORY: Turkish houses sell like hotcakes amid high inflation DATELINE: April 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:49 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the apartments and houses in Turkey 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): CEM GULER, Real estate expert 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ENVER ERKAN, Chief economist at Istanbul based Tera Securities 4. various of interior of an apartment STORYLINE: Residential property sales are soaring in Turkey as households believe that buying a house is a sound investment for hedging against galloping inflation, experts said. As the inflation rate topped 60 percent in March, house sales in the month jumped 20.6 percent year on year to 134,170 units, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) announced last week. The record sales came amid shrinking supply and a slowdown in new investments due to steep cost increases in the construction industry. Real estate professionals think that the rush for houses will continue so long as the inflation rate remains elevated.

Malta's PM Robert Abela sworn in

STORY: Malta's PM Robert Abela sworn in DATELINE: March 29, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Valletta CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the PM's swearing-in ceremony 2. various of the PM and supporters of Labour Party STORYLINE: Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela took the oath of office on Monday after his Labour Party won Saturday's general election. He was sworn in during a ceremony at the Palace in Valletta presided over by Malta's President George Vella. The Labour Party won the general election with 55.1 percent of the vote, against the Nationalist Party's (PN) 41.7 percent. This is the Labour Party's third consecutive general election win since 2013. The election was characterized by a record low turnout since independence, at 85.5 percent. The official result, which includes the entire list of the 65 elected members of Parliament, was announced by the Electoral Commission on Monday. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Valletta. (XHTV)

Health agency chief says unvaccinated people account for 92 pct COVID-19 deaths this year in India

STORY: Health agency chief says unvaccinated people account for 92 pct COVID-19 deaths this year in India DATELINE: March 4, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of the street view of India STORYLINE: Chief of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Balram Bhargava said on Thursday that unvaccinated people account for 92 percent of COVID-19 deaths so far this year in India. "During 2022, unvaccinated individuals were 92 percent responsible for all the deaths," he told a press briefing. Quoting a study on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing mortality, Bhargava said the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine is 98.9 percent effective and if both doses are given, the effectiveness is 99.3 percent. V.K. Paul, member of think-tank National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog (commission), said vaccines have played a vital role in the fight against COVID-19. "It is evident that vaccines and the wide vaccination coverage have pl

GM to boost stake in Isuzu

GM to boost stake in Isuzu

Kazuhira Seki, chairman of Japan's Isuzu Motors Ltd.(R), and J.F. Smith, chairman of General Motors Corp. (GM) of the United States, shake hands at a Tokyo hotel Dec. 18 after agreeing to strengthen the two companies' ties. Under the accord, GM will increase its stake in Isuzu to 49 percent from the current 37.5 percent. ==Kyodo