Politics shouldn't override innovation: Kenyan economist

STORY: Politics shouldn't override innovation: Kenyan economist SHOOTING TIME: May 15, 2024 DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of China's EV industry 2. SOUNDBITE (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist STORYLINE: The U.S. on Tuesday announced new tariffs on a variety of imports from China, including electric vehicles (EVs), lithium batteries, photovoltaic cells, critical minerals, semiconductors, steel and aluminum. The additional levy will cause tariffs on Chinese EV imports to rise to 100 percent this year. A Nairobi-based economist said the U.S. move shows how politics override innovation, noting that protectionism will harm the global decarbonization trend and industry growth. SOUNDBITE (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist "We are seeing politics overriding innovation. Everybody believes that world is at time to become decarbonized world, so that we move away from fossil fuels, coals, gas, petrol, diesel and so on. And one of the ways to

A closer look at China's economic steadiness, vitality and potential

STORY: A closer look at China's economic steadiness, vitality and potential SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: April 25, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:41 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese economy related footage 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): DIAA HELMY, Secretary-general, Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BENJAMIN MGANA, Chief Editor of Foreign News of The Guardian, Tanzania 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): BRENDAN AHERN, Chief investment officer with U.S.-based asset management firm Krane Funds Advisors LLC 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): STEPHEN PERRY, President emeritus of Britain's 48 Group Club STORYLINE: China's economic performance for the first quarter of this year was unveiled. Notably, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 5.3 percent year-on-year GDP increase in Q1, exceeding market projections and surpassing the government's annual target of around 5 percent. The performance is described as

Kenyans grappling with high cost of living

STORY: Kenyans grappling with high cost of living SHOOTING TIME: April 4, 2024 DATELINE: April 6, 2024 LENGTH: 00:04:21 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RUTH WANGARA, Xinhua correspondent 2. various street shots 3. shot of Xn Iraki 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XN IRAKI, Economics analyst 5. various of Kibera food market 6. various of supermarket shoppers, slum and vegetable vendors 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Kiswahili): MARTIN MASANGA, Vegetable vendor 8. various of motorists 9. various of petrol station 10. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): DAPHNE TOO, Local resident 11. various of people on street 12. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): XN IRAKI, Economics analyst STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RUTH WANGARA, Xinhua correspondent "Kenya, alongside other African countries, has been in a state of high inflation rate resulting to high cost of living. This has led to a majority of the population being in financial distress or struggling to make ends meet. This high economic status has impacted the people

Experts optimistic about China's economic outlook in 2024

STORY: Experts optimistic about China's economic outlook in 2024 SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 10, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:22 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China-related footage 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RONNIE LINS, Director of China-Brazil Center for Research and Business 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ALESSANDRO ZADRO, Head of Research at Italy-China Council Foundation 5. various of China-related footage STORYLINE: Experts remain upbeat about China's economic prospects in 2024, saying that the country will still be a major contributor to global growth. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist "I think the prospects are bright. I believe that if the economic prospects of China are bright next year, 2024, the rest of the world is going to benefit, because China is a big importer and China is a big exporter. So a lot of countries depend on China for trade." SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RONNIE LINS, Director of China

Kenyan expert optimistic about Chinese economy, stresses its significance to world

STORY: Kenyan expert optimistic about Chinese economy, stresses its significance to world SHOOTING DATE: Dec. 9, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:59 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist 3. various of China 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist STORYLINE: In a recent interview with Xinhua, a Kenyan economist has expressed optimism on prospects of China's economy in 2024, stressing its significance to the world. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist "I think the prospects are bright. I believe that if the economic prospects of China are bright next year, 2024, the rest of the world is going to benefit, because China is a big importer and China is a big exporter. So a lot of countries depend on China for trade. So we hope that China will continue being the locomotive of the world." Iraki also said he hopes that the technological transfer from China will empower Africa in fostering developme

Experts hail CIFTIS in leading green transformation of trade in services

STORY: Experts hail CIFTIS in leading green transformation of trade in services DATELINE: Sept. 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) site 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ABDEL-SATTAR ESHRAH, Secretary-general of Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Business Council 3. various of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) site 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist 5. various of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) site 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): PATRICK MWANGI, International affairs analyst 7. various of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) site STORYLINE: International experts have praised the role of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in leading the green, innovative and inclusive transformation of trade in services. This year's CIFTIS, one of the world's largest and most comprehensive fairs for trade in services

70 years on, Korean War armistice rings bell of peace

STORY: 70 years on, Korean War armistice rings bell of peace DATELINE: July 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:04:49 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. File footage of China's War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG CHANGYUAN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG CHANGYUAN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran 6. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): PAN XIBIN, Chinese People's Volunteers veteran 7. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi 8. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): AARON RABENA, Research Fellow of Manila-based Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation 9. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): ZHAO AILING, Head of School of Marxism, Beijing Information Science and Technology University STORYLINE: 70 years ago, an armistice halted the three-year Korean War. It also marked th

Tilted America: Us vs. Them

STORY: Tilted America: Us vs. Them DATELINE: June 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:05:22 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the United States 2. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DANIELLE CALVA, U.S. citizen in Indonesia 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MARIAM ARTHUR, U.S. citizen in Cambodia 5. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute 7. STANDUP 3 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent 8. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): RICH HERRERA, Florida resident 9. STANDUP 4 (English): ZHANG LI, Xinhua correspondent 10. SOUNDBITE 5 (Arabic): HEBA GAMAL, Professor of political science at the Cairo-based Institute of National Planning 11. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): JEAN PARK, Student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 12. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): WEST, New York resident 13. SOUNDBITE 8 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi 14.

African scholar warns of risks of zero-sum thinking

STORY: African scholar warns of risks of zero-sum thinking DATELINE: May 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the U.S. 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi 3. various of the U.S. 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi STORYLINE: While talking about the act of power hegemony to push for decoupling from or breaking economic links with China, a Kenyan economist said it's a zero-sum game caused by old thinking of the Cold War era. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi "That takes me back to the old economics theories of a zero-sum game, that if you lose, I must gain, there's no way the both of us can gain. But I think the economic reality is nowadays that such competition does not need to be a zero-sum game. All of us can gain. If you look at the gains in productivity, the gains in trade, the gains in economic

U.S. two-party political system costs money: Kenyan economist

STORY: U.S. two-party political system costs money: Kenyan economist DATELINE: May 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:32 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of American street views 2. SOUNDBITE (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist 3. various of gun violence 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist STORYLINE: In a recent interview with Xinhua, a Kenyan economist said that the two-party political system in the U.S. has made American elections a game for the rich. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist "If you want to influence people to change the way they think, you have to use certain means, and one of them is money. So they influence your mind. You have to use that advertisements, town hall meetings, and a lot of advertisements out of meetings, and that costs money. So, in the long run, you find that if you are going to win, you have to spend a lot of money. So it's because of the two-party political system that makes political parties in the U.S. very expensive

Gun violence in U.S. fueled by special interest groups: experts

STORY: Gun violence in U.S. fueled by special interest groups: experts DATELINE: May 10, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:07 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people mourning at the shooting site in Texas 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANNA MALINDOG-UY, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute 3. various of a rally against gun violence 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED ALIIBA, Journalist of Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): STEPHEN NDEGWA, International Relations lecturer, United States International University (USIU-Africa) 6. various of gun-free zone signs placed near Times Square, New York City 7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi 8. various of police force responding to the shooting in Texas STORYLINE: Once again, Americans mourned deaths caused by gun violence. Three shootings rocked Mississippi, California, and Texas last Friday and Saturday, killing at least 11 people and injuring doz

Growing fallout from U.S. bank failures sparks worries across banking sector

STORY: Growing fallout from U.S. bank failures sparks worries across banking sector DATELINE: March 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:48 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GIORGIO DI GIORGIO, Professor of macroeconomics and monetary policy at Rome's LUISS University 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): MURAT TUFAN, Analyst with Turkish broadcaster Ekoturk 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist STORYLINE: Growing fallout from the collapse of two U.S. banks -- Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) from California and New York's Signature Bank has sent jitters across the banking sector. Many experts have expressed their concerns over the failures of the two U.S. banks. Worries about its impact on European financial institutions began to push share prices downward. Led by banking shares, most European stock exchanges suffered significant losses on Monday and Wednesday, each time followed by only modest rebounds. An Italian expert has said a major factor contributing to the troubles was ris

U.S. regional bank failures evoke unease in banking sector

STORY: U.S. regional bank failures evoke unease in banking sector DATELINE: March 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the exterior of New York Stock Exchange Silicon Valley Bank 2. various of the exterior of Credit Suisse 3. various of screenshots of Moody's report 4. various of Silicon Valley Bank 5. various of Signature Bank 6. various of street scenes in U.S. 7. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): MURAT TUFAN, Analyst with Turkish broadcaster Ekoturk 8. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): XN IRAKI, Kenyan economist STORYLINE: U.S. and European stocks plunged on Wednesday, as turbulence at Credit Suisse renewed fears of a banking crisis. Banking giant Credit Suisse lost nearly a fourth of its value Wednesday, amid the growing fallout from the collapse of two regional banks in the United States. Rating agency Moody's has slashed its outlook on the entire U.S. banking system to negative in the wake of failures at the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (SNY). Experts hav

China continues to drive world economic growth: African scholar

STORY: China continues to drive world economic growth: African scholar DATELINE: March 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of views in China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi 3. various of views in China 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi STORYLINE: An African scholar says China, as one of the locomotives of global economic growth, is shoring up world economy and development. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): X.N IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi "China has become one of the locomotives of global economic growth. So if China is growing, the rest of the world is growing. There will be a lot of growth in world trade and the world trade benefits, not just China, but the rest of the world. The last time I visited China, I went to Beijing, I also went to Shanghai. One thing that surprised me was the number of global brands that were in China

Spotlight on "two sessions": Maintaining low inflation

STORY: Spotlight on "two sessions": Maintaining low inflation DATELINE: March 11, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:25 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of "two sessions" 2. various of China 3. STANDUP 1 (English): HUANG AIPING, Xinhua correspondent 4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): TIAN XUAN, NPC Deputy, Vice-president of Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance 5. various of China 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SELCUK COLAKOGLU, Director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FAHEEM SARDAR, Senior Policy Specialist at Strategic Policy Planning Cell, National Security Division of Prime Minister's Office of Government of Pakistan 8. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director, center for China studies, Nigeria 9. STANDUP 2 (English): HUANG AIPING, Xinhua correspondent 10. various of China 11. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of Economics at the University of Nairobi 12. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): HUDA AL-MALLAH, Director of the International Center for

World hails good start of Chinese economy in 2023

STORY: World hails good start of Chinese economy in 2023 DATELINE: Feb. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:15 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese cities 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FAHEEM SARDAR, Senior policy specialist, National Security Division of Prime Minister's Office of Government of Pakistan 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WILLIAM JONES, Washington bureau chief of U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): HAMID RASHID, Chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN DESA 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Nairobi STORYLINE: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast on Monday for China's economic growth to 5.2 percent in 2023, 0.8 percentage points higher than October 2022 forecast, as it said the country's recent reopening has paved the way for a faster-than-expected recovery. In the first month of 2023 when China was celebrating the C

China's economic recovery to add momentum to world economy: Kenyan economist

STORY: China's economic recovery to add momentum to world economy: Kenyan economist DATELINE: Jan. 29, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:19 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of economics lecturer, University of Nairobi 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of economics lecturer, University of Nairobi STORYLINE: As China's economy posted steady growth in 2022 despite pressures, a Kenyan economist says China's economic recovery will inject momentum into the world economy. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): X.N. IRAKI, Professor of economics lecturer, University of Nairobi "For the last, maybe, two decades, China has become one of the locomotives of the world economy. So if China does well, the rest of the world as well. So, everybody's very happy that China has relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, people can travel and we expect the supply chains to be streamlined. That is more demand for goods from China and by extension, if China does well, it pulls