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ZIMBABWE-HARARE-AU AGENCY-DROUGHT INSURANCE PAYOUT

(240705) -- HARARE, July 5, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube (1st L) receives drought risk insurance payout from the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group to help alleviate the effects of the El Nino-induced drought during a handover ceremony in Harare, Zimbabwe, July 4, 2024. TO GO WITH "Zimbabwe receives 31.8 mln USD drought insurance payout from AU agency" (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Türkiye's Istanbul receives nearly 7 mln foreign visitors in Jan-May

STORY: Türkiye's Istanbul receives nearly 7 mln foreign visitors in Jan-May SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: June 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:01 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul 2. various of tourists in Istanbul STORYLINE: Türkiye's Istanbul received nearly 7 million foreign visitors in the first five months of this year, setting a new record for foreign arrivals, according to data released by the Culture and Tourism Ministry on Wednesday. The data showed that the number of foreign visitors to Istanbul increased by 10.31 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. The metropolis welcomed 1.7 million foreign travelers in May alone, marking an 11.48 percent rise from last year and the highest number for the month. In May, the largest number of visitors to Istanbul came from Russia, followed by Germany, the United States, and Iran, according to the data. Meanwhile, in separate data, the ministry reported that from January to May,

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Freight throughput at China's Horgos Port exceeds 17 mln tonnes in Jan-May

STORY: Freight throughput at China's Horgos Port exceeds 17 mln tonnes in Jan-May SHOOTING TIME: June 25, 2024 DATELINE: June 26, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:02 LOCATION: HORGOS, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Horgos highway port 2. various of a China-Europe freight train in operation 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LIANG HAO, Manager of Horgos Haocheng International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. STORYLINE: The freight volume passing through the Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reached 17.518 million tonnes in the first five months of this year, an increase of 12 percent year-on-year, according to Horgos customs. A total of 3,248 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains passed through Horgos Port during the period, marking a year-on-year increase of 1.9 percent. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): LIANG HAO, Manager of Horgos Haocheng International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd. "The business environment at Horgos Port has been improving. In the first five months of this year, our co

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Output of China's largest self-operated offshore oilfield exceeds 100 mln tonnes

STORY: Output of China's largest self-operated offshore oilfield exceeds 100 mln tonnes SHOOTING TIME: June 21, 2024 DATELINE: June 24, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:17 LOCATION: TIANJIN, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the oilfield STORYLINE: China's largest self-operated offshore oil field, Suizhong 36-1, has produced more than 100 million tonnes of crude oil so far, making it the first oilfield in China to achieve an output exceeding 100 million tonnes. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tianjin, China. (XHTV)

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Hajj Pilgrims Take The Metro In Mecca - Saudi Arabia

This photo taken on June 16, 2024 shows trains running on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" Photo by CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Hajj Pilgrims Take The Metro In Mecca - Saudi Arabia

This photo taken on June 16, 2024 shows trains running on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" Photo by CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Hajj Pilgrims Take The Metro In Mecca - Saudi Arabia

Passengers wait at the platform to take the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 15, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" Photo by CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Hajj Pilgrims Take The Metro In Mecca - Saudi Arabia

Hajj pilgrims are pictured aboard a train that runs on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" Photo by CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Hajj Pilgrims Take The Metro In Mecca - Saudi Arabia

Trains that run on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line wait to depart in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" Photo by CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA-MECCA-2024 HAJJ-CHINESE-BUILT LIGHT RAIL

(240620) -- MECCA, June 20, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Passengers wait at the platform to take the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 15, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" (CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA-MECCA-2024 HAJJ-CHINESE-BUILT LIGHT RAIL

(240620) -- MECCA, June 20, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Trains that run on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line wait to depart in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" (CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA-MECCA-2024 HAJJ-CHINESE-BUILT LIGHT RAIL

(240620) -- MECCA, June 20, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Hajj pilgrims are pictured aboard a train that runs on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" (CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA-MECCA-2024 HAJJ-CHINESE-BUILT LIGHT RAIL

(240620) -- MECCA, June 20, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on June 16, 2024 shows trains running on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" (CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA-MECCA-2024 HAJJ-CHINESE-BUILT LIGHT RAIL

(240620) -- MECCA, June 20, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Staff members monitor the operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line at the operation control center in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 19, 2024. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" (CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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SAUDI ARABIA-MECCA-2024 HAJJ-CHINESE-BUILT LIGHT RAIL

(240620) -- MECCA, June 20, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on June 16, 2024 shows trains running on the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) on Wednesday announced that it has completed the 2024 Hajj operation of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Over the seven days, 2,206 trains have been dispatched, serving about 2.094 million passengers, CRCC said in a statement. TO GO WITH "Chinese light rail delivers over 2 mln trips in Mecca for Hajj pilgrims" (CRCC/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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U.S. provides 130 mln USD for Egypt's development

STORY: U.S. provides 130 mln USD for Egypt's development SHOOTING TIME: File DATELINE: June 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:43 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the post of USAID Egypt on Facebook 2. various of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo 3. Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat speaking STORYLINE: The U.S. and Egypt on Thursday signed eight funding agreements under which the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide Egypt with grants worth 130 million U.S. dollars to support Egypt's development. The agreements were signed by Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Herro Mustafa Garg in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Al-Mashat said the "non-refundable" development grants will be directed to several priority sectors, including inclusive economic governance, education, health, agribusiness development, climate action, and water management solutions, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministr

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Türkiye fines Google nearly 15 mln USD over hotel searches

STORY: Türkiye fines Google nearly 15 mln USD over hotel searches SHOOTING TIME: June 10, 2024 DATELINE: June 11, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Google 2. various of people using Google 3. various of Google STORYLINE: Türkiye's Competition Board fined U.S. tech giant Google 482 million liras (around 14.88 million U.S. dollars) on Monday for failing to comply with an injunction related to hotel search queries. The regulatory body said in a statement that Google had not implemented "precautionary measures suggested for hotel searches," blocking competing local search engines on its platform and undermining fair competition. The fine comes after the competition board launched an investigation into Google in March and imposed a daily fine of 0.05 percent of its 2023 revenue starting from mid-April until it complied with the injunction. The move follows a similar decision by the watchdog in March, when it issued an interim injunction against social m

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Bangladesh launches mega tree planting campaign, eyes over 80 mln saplings

STORY: Bangladesh launches mega tree planting campaign, eyes over 80 mln saplings SHOOTING DATE: June 6, 2024 DATELINE: June 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Dhaka CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Tree Fair 2024 STORYLINE: The Bangladeshi government on Wednesday launched its mega annual nationwide tree planting campaign with a target of planting over 80 million saplings during this monsoon season. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the campaign and Tree Fair 2024 and the World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2024 at the premises of the Bangabandhu International Conference Center. Urging all to plant and nurture saplings, she said Bangladesh must be protected from the adverse effects of climate change and her government is determined to act on it. The month-long annual campaign, first launched in 1994, is considered an important event to motivate people to save the environment of the delta country, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers and is highly vulnerable to the

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Desertification control brings environmental, economic benefits in NE China's Liaoning

STORY: Desertification control brings environmental, economic benefits in NE China's Liaoning SHOOTING TIME: recent DATELINE: June 5, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: SHENYANG, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the paddy fields 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG BINGJUN, Local villager of Shangsanjiazi Village, Zhangwu County, Liaoning 3. various of the timothy grass 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO DALI, Technician of local fodder company STORYLINE: Zhangwu County, Liaoning Province Located on the southern edge of the Horqin Sandy Land, Zhangwu was once plagued by sand and dust storms. Historically, 96 percent of Zhangwu County's total area was desertified land. In 2020, Liaoning Province launched an ecological project with a total investment of nearly 3 billion yuan (about 414 mln USD). Zhangwu County has transformed 18,000 mu (1,200 hectares) of sandy land into paddy fields, achieving both economic and ecological benefits. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG BINGJUN, Local villager of Shangsanji

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Over 6.3 mln students enroll for 2024-25 academic year in Myanmar

STORY: Over 6.3 mln students enroll for 2024-25 academic year in Myanmar SHOOTING TIME: June 3, 2024 DATELINE: June 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:15 LOCATION: YANGON, Myanmar CATEGORY: EDUCATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of students in Myanmar STORYLINE: A total of 6,394,528 students have enrolled for the 2024-25 academic year at basic education schools, private schools and monastic education schools across Myanmar during the school enrollment week from May 23 to June 2, state-run newspaper The Mirror Daily reported on Monday. The country's Ministry of Education has provided free textbooks, exercise books, pencils and ball pens to all students. Additionally, primary school students received free school uniforms, the report said. School enrollment remains open for students who were unable to enroll on time due to various circumstances, it added. Basic education schools across Myanmar officially opened on Monday, according to the Ministry of Education. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yangon, My

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Türkiye hosts over 12 mln visitors in first 4 months of 2024

STORY: Türkiye hosts over 12 million visitors in first 4 months of 2024 SHOOTING TIME: May 20/23/25, 2024 DATELINE: May 25, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:18 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourists in Türkiye (Courtesy of ihlas news agency) STORYLINE: Türkiye hosted over 12 million visitors in the first four months of 2024, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This total includes over 10 million foreign tourists and around 2 million Turkish citizens residing abroad, marking an 11.75 percent increase in foreign visitors compared to last year. Germany led the influx of visitors, which was followed by Russia and Iran. Istanbul remained the top destination, hosting 5.24 million foreign tourists, nearly half of all arrivals. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said Türkiye targets 60 million visitors and 60 billion dollars of tourism revenue in 2024. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara. (XHTV)

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Israel comes to standstill to commemorate 6 mln Holocaust victims

STORY: Israel comes to standstill to commemorate 6 mln Holocaust victims SHOOTING TIME: May 6, 2024 DATELINE: May 7, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:52 LOCATION: Jerusalem CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Netanyahu attending the memorial ceremony (courtesy of Israeli Government Press Office) 2. various of the memorial ceremony (courtesy of Israeli Government Press Office) 3. various of Netanyahu delivering a speech (courtesy of Israeli Government Press Office) 4. various of Holocaust survivors lighting torches at the ceremony (courtesy of Israeli Government Press Office) 5. various of sirens echoing through the air STORYLINE: Israel came to a halt to the sound of sirens on Monday morning to commemorate the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust on the country's national Holocaust Remembrance Day. At 10 a.m. (0700 GMT), as the two-minute sirens pierced the air, people across the country stood in solemn silence in honor of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Nazis during World War II. On streets

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Turkish police seize smuggled gold worth 1.4 mln USD in border province

STORY: Turkish police seize smuggled gold worth 1.4 mln USD in border province SHOOTING TIME: May 2, 2024 DATELINE: May 3, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:05 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. police removing smuggled gold bars hidden in the trailer of a truck in Edirne, Türkiye 2. smuggled gold bars and bracelets seized in the operation being exhibited at the police headquarters in Edirne, Türkiye STORYLINE: Turkish police seized smuggled gold bars and bracelets worth 1.4 million U.S. dollars in an operation on Thursday at the northwestern border province of Edirne, local media reported. The Haberturk Daily said the security forces seized two trucks arriving in Türkiye from the Kapikule border gate with Bulgaria, confiscating 23 gold bars and 22 gold bracelets weighing nearly 19 km. The seized gold is worth 45.2 million Turkish liras or 1.4 million dollars, said Haberturk. Rampant inflation, a weakening currency and geopolitical tensions are boosting demand for gold in Türkiye, acco

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Vacant homes in Japan hit record 9 mln

STORY: Vacant homes in Japan hit record 9 mln SHOOTING TIME: May 2, 2024 DATELINE: May 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of apartments and houses in Tokyo STORYLINE: The number of vacant homes in Japan has climbed to a fresh record of 9 million as of October 2023, up by 510,000 from the previous survey conducted in 2018, the latest government data showed. The tally also made up a record 13.8 percent of the total number of homes in the country, meaning that one in about seven homes is abandoned, according to the internal affairs ministry survey published Tuesday. The rising number can be attributed to an increase in cases where properties are left unattended because single elderly dwellers die or move to nursery homes, according to the ministry. Of the 9 million unoccupied dwellings, the majority at 4.43 million are available for rent, while 330,000 are for sale and 380,000 are empty second dwellings such as vacation homes. The status of the remainin

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Mongolia plants 42 mln trees since 2021 to combat desertification

STORY: Mongolia plants 42 mln trees since 2021 to combat desertification SHOOTING TIME: files DATELINE: May 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of tree-planting in Mongolia STORYLINE: Mongolia has planted a total of 42 million trees across the country since the launch of its national tree-planting campaign in 2021, the country's presidential press office said Thursday. In addition, at least 63 million seedlings have so far been stocked, it said, urging the public to actively take part in the upcoming National Tree Planting Day. The land-locked Asian country is expected to observe the country's largest tree-planting and nature care event on May 11. In October 2021, Mongolia launched the nationwide tree-planting campaign "Billion Trees" as the country's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh told the United Nations General Assembly that the campaign aims to plant at least a billion trees by 2030 to combat desertification. Desertification related to cl

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Kenya allocates 30 mln USD for flood response as death toll reaches 70

STORY: Kenya allocates 30 mln USD for flood response as death toll reaches 70 SHOOTING TIME: April 25, 2024 DATELINE: April 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of floods stricken areas STORYLINE: Kenya has allocated 4 billion shillings (about 30 million U.S. dollars) for immediate response to the devastating flooding caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday. The government has intensified efforts to mitigate disasters resulting from the ongoing enhanced rains and floods, despite the meteorological department's warning of continued heavy rainfall for the next three days, Gachagua said. Since the onset of the heavy rainfall, 70 people have lost their lives, 22 have been injured and eight are missing, according to Gachagua. He added that 131,179 people have been affected by the rains, with contingency plans in place to enhance the coordination of the emergency response. "We are in discussions with the

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About 16 mln Afghans to experience crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity: UN report

STORY: About 16 mln Afghans to experience crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity: UN report SHOOTING TIME: April 20, 2024 DATELINE: April 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:13 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of local residents in Kabul STORYLINE: An estimated 15.8 million people in war-ravaged Afghanistan will experience crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity in 2024, said a United Nations (UN) report released Thursday. According to the 2023 UN Afghanistan Annual Results Report, the majority of Afghanistan's population is unable to procure basic needs such as healthcare, food, livelihoods and housing. "As 2023 began, families across Afghanistan continued to struggle to feed their children. Nine out of 10 people were not consuming an adequate amount of food, the cost of which absorbed an overwhelming 89 percent of household incomes," it said. According to the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Afghanistan ranked 114th among 125 countries with sufficient data to calculate the index score

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AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-CHILDREN

(240420) -- KABUL, April 20, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 20, 2024 shows children walking on a muddy road in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. TO GO WITH "About 16 mln Afghans to experience crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity: UN report" (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

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Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway marks 6-month operation with 2.56 mln passengers

STORY: Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway marks 6-month operation with 2.56 mln passengers SHOOTING TIME: April 17, 2024 DATELINE: April 19, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:18 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the railway and the train 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Indonesian): CHAERUL ZEN, Passenger 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Indonesian): LAKSMI INDIRA, Passenger 4. various of the railway and the train STORYLINE: The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway marked its six months of operation on Wednesday with a total of 2.56 million passengers transported, said PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese state-owned firms that constructs and runs the HSR. According to the KCIC, since its official commercial operation around mid-October last year, the railway has operated a total of 7,050 train trips with a mileage of over 1.26 million kilometers. At present, the railway's daily train trips have been increased from 14 to 52, and the number of passenger seats has

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IMF reviews to unlock 360-mln-USD loan for Ghana

STORY: IMF reviews to unlock 360-mln-USD loan for Ghana SHOOTING TIME: April 13, 2024/File DATELINE: April 15, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:06 LOCATION: Accra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the IMF joint press briefing 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): STEPHANE ROUDET, IMF mission chief for Ghana 3. various the IMF joint press briefing 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ERNEST ADDISON, Bank of Ghana Governor 5. various of the IMF joint press briefing 6. various of the Central Business District of Accra (file) STORYLINE: A staff review team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Saturday that the second review of Ghana's reform program would unlock 360 million U.S. dollars for the West African country. In a statement, the IMF said Ghana's performance under the program has been generally strong, with most quantitative targets met and key reforms implemented. This positive outcome of the review, the statement said, would pave the way for the West African country to draw the scheduled 360 million dollars as

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Egypt seeks to secure 3.5 mln tonnes of local wheat in 2024 supply season

STORY: Egypt seeks to secure 3.5 mln tonnes of local wheat in 2024 supply season SHOOTING TIME: Archive DATELINE: April 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egypt's Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade 2. shot of the minister of supply and internal trade speaking 3. various of wheat harvesting STORYLINE: Egypt's Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has announced that its silos and receiving points will commence the purchase of local wheat from farmers starting Monday. According to Ali Moselhi, minister of supply and internal trade, Egypt has set its sights on acquiring 3.5 million tonnes of local wheat in the 2024 procurement season. The ministry further emphasized that farmers will receive their financial dues within 24 hours just after supplying the wheat quantities. While wheat supplying remains optional this season, the ministry pointed out that transporting wheat from one location to another, without an official permit in the respective gover

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Livestock deaths caused by harsh weather in Mongolia rise to 6.3 mln

STORY: Livestock deaths caused by harsh weather in Mongolia rise to 6.3 mln SHOOTING TIME: early footage DATELINE: April 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:05 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of harsh winter and livestock deaths STORYLINE: The number of livestock deaths caused by the extreme wintry weather known as "dzud" has risen to 6.3 million so far this winter in Mongolia, the country's State Emergency Commission (SEC) said Wednesday. The figure accounted for 9.6 percent of the country's total livestock population counted at the end of 2023, the SEC said in a statement. Among the country's 21 provinces, eastern Sukhbaatar has been the most affected by the dzud, with over 1.5 million livestock deaths, the commission said. "Dzud" is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow. Last winter, Mongolia saw record snowfall, the largest since 1975, and around 90 percent of its territory

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China's Yunnan sees over 12 mln visits during Qingming holiday

STORY: China's Yunnan sees over 12 mln visits during Qingming holiday SHOOTING TIME: April 4-6, 2024 DATELINE: April 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:15 LOCATION: KUNMING, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourists in China's Yunnan during Qingming holiday STORYLINE: Southwest China's Yunnan Province saw nearly 12.47 million tourist trips during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday that ended on Saturday, data showed. This figure was up 59.5 percent from the same holiday in 2019, according to the China Tourism Academy. Tourism revenue totaled 11.32 billion yuan (about 1.6 billion U.S. dollars), up 85.7 percent from the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 epidemic. Yunnan boasts rich tourism resources, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites. The most popular tourist destinations during this year's Qingming Festival holiday included the old towns of Lijiang and Dali. Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for people to pay tribute to the de

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CHINA-YUNNAN-QINGMING FESTIVAL HOLIDAY-TOURISM (CN)

(240407) -- YUNNAN, April 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Tourists pose for a group photo in Eryuan County of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 6, 2024. TO GO WITH "China's Yunnan sees over 12 mln visits during Qingming holiday" (Photo by Luo Xincai/Xinhua)

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CHINA-YUNNAN-QINGMING FESTIVAL HOLIDAY-TOURISM (CN)

(240407) -- YUNNAN, April 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Tourists take part in a campfire party at an ancient town of Yi ethnic group in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Apirl 5, 2024. TO GO WITH "China's Yunnan sees over 12 mln visits during Qingming holiday" (Photo by Li Lihua/Xinhua)

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China-Mongolia highway port handles over 10 mln tonnes of goods in 2024

STORY: China-Mongolia highway port handles over 10 mln tonnes of goods in 2024 SHOOTING TIME: April 2, 2024 DATELINE: April 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:01 LOCATION: HOHHOT, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Ganqmod Port STORYLINE: The total volume of goods handled by Ganqmod Port, the largest highway port on the China-Mongolia border, has surpassed 10 million tonnes so far in 2024, the port administration said on Wednesday. As of 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, the port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region had handled nearly 10.06 million tonnes of goods this year, up 24.72 percent year on year, hitting a record high. Ganqmod Port ranks first among the highway ports on the China-Mongolia border regarding goods volume, and reached the 10-million-tonne mark earlier than in 2023. According to the port's management committee, imports of coal totaled 9.78 million tonnes, marking a 25.13 percent increase on the previous year. Imports of copper concentrate amounted to 224,700 tonnes, reflect

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CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-BAYANNUR-GANQMOD PORT-GOODS VOLUME (CN)

(240404) -- BAYANNUR, April 4, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows cargo trucks being inspected at Ganqmod Port in the city of Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The total volume of goods handled by Ganqmod Port, the largest highway port on the China-Mongolia border, has surpassed 10 million tonnes so far in 2024, the port administration said on Wednesday. TO GO WITH "China-Mongolia highway port handles over 10 mln tonnes of goods in 2024" (Xinhua/Li Yunping)

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CHINA-INNER MONGOLIA-BAYANNUR-GANQMOD PORT-GOODS VOLUME (CN)

(240404) -- BAYANNUR, April 4, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows a border police inspecting a cargo truck at Ganqmod Port in the city of Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The total volume of goods handled by Ganqmod Port, the largest highway port on the China-Mongolia border, has surpassed 10 million tonnes so far in 2024, the port administration said on Wednesday. TO GO WITH "China-Mongolia highway port handles over 10 mln tonnes of goods in 2024" (Xinhua/Li Yunping)

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Hong Kong's passenger traffic hits 1 mln as Easter holiday begins

STORY: Hong Kong's passenger traffic hits 1 mln as Easter holiday begins SHOOTING TIME: March 30, 2024 DATELINE: March 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: HONG KONG/SHENZHEN, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people waiting to cross the border 2. various of shopping malls in Shenzhen 3. various of people waiting to cross the border STORYLINE: Passenger traffic in and out of Hong Kong exceeded 1 million trips as of 9:00 p.m. local time on Friday when a four-day Easter holiday kicked off. According to the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, more than 760,000 people left the region and more than 270,000 arrived, setting a new high after the pandemic. During this year's Easter holiday, many Hong Kong people chose to go to the Chinese mainland for vacation. The outbound services at control points were very busy, and people flow control was implemented. Statistics showed that as of 9 p.m. local time on Friday, more than 160,000 people left Ho

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Harsh weather kills over 5 mln head of livestock in Mongolia

STORY: Harsh weather kills over 5 mln head of livestock in Mongolia SHOOTING TIME: March 2024 DATELINE: March 22, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:35 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of livestock in Mongolia STORYLINE: More than 5 million head of livestock have perished in Mongolia so far this winter, due to extreme wintry weather known as "dzud," the country's State Emergency Commission (SEC) said Friday. The dzud is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow. As Mongolia saw much more snow than usual this winter, over 80 percent of its territory had been blanketed with snow up to 100 cm thick, according to the country's weather monitoring agency. The amount of snow cover in Mongolia has so far decreased to around 60 percent, it said, adding that the country is expected to experience severe spring weather. At the end of last year, there were over 190,000 herder households in the c

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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-UBER-CLASS ACTION-SETTLEMENT

(240318) -- SYDNEY, March 18, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A customer gets on a taxi in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. TO GO WITH "Uber to pay Aussie taxi drivers about 178.5 mln USD in class action settlement" (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

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AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-UBER-CLASS ACTION-SETTLEMENT

(240318) -- SYDNEY, March 18, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A taxi stops at a red light in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. TO GO WITH "Uber to pay Aussie taxi drivers about 178.5 mln USD in class action settlement" (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

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Uber to pay Aussie taxi drivers about 178.5 mln USD in class action settlement

STORY: Uber to pay Aussie taxi drivers about 178.5 mln USD in class action settlement SHOOTING TIME: March 17, 2024 DATELINE: March 18, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: SYDNEY, Australia CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of vehicles and taxi cars on streets in Sydney, Australia STORYLINE: After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. "There has been a historic settlement reached in the Uber class action, with Uber to pay 272 million Australian dollars - the fifth-highest class action resolution ever in Australian legal history," Maurice Blackburn, the plaintiff firm that filed the case in 2019, announced on Monday. "As a result, the Supreme Court (of Victoria) trial due to begin today will not be proceeding. The Court will need to approve the settlement as being in the best interests of group members, and work

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EU allocates 500 mln euros for ammunition production

STORY: EU allocates 500 mln euros for ammunition production SHOOTING TIME: March 15, 2024/recent footage DATELINE: March 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:46 LOCATION: Brussels CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the European Commission Berlaymont building 2. various of a military exercise at the Rota base in Southern Spain STORYLINE: The European Commission on Friday announced the allocation of 500 million euros (about 544 million U.S. dollars) to boost ammunition production as part of its support for the European defense industry. In a statement, the commission said this would allow the European defense industry to increase its ammunition production to two million shells a year by the end of 2025. Its annual production capacity for 155 mm shells reached 1 million per year in January. To assist the European industry in increasing its ammunition production and readiness, the commission said it selected 31 projects in five areas: explosives, powder, shells, missiles and testing and reconditioning certifi

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Over 500 mln trees planted through voluntary campaigns in China's Inner Mongolia

STORY: Over 500 mln trees planted through voluntary campaigns in China's Inner Mongolia SHOOTING TIME: April 28, 2023 DATELINE: March 13, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:10 LOCATION: HOHHOT, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of tree planting STORYLINE: Over the past decade, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has seen some 110 million instances of voluntary tree planting carried out by local residents, with over 500 million trees planted to date, according to local authorities. During this period, the region has actively encouraged its residents from all walks of life to join the afforestation campaigns and has built new tree plantation bases or expanded the existing over 300 bases to facilitate these efforts, the regional forestry and grassland bureau said Tuesday. All citizens of appropriate age can sign up through the region's online platforms to participate in voluntary tree planting, the bureau added. The region is the largest and most comprehensive ecological functional area in n

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CHINA-STONE TOOL TECHNOLOGY-EAST ASIAN HOMININS-STUDY (CN)

(240307) -- BEIJING, March 7, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This image provided by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows the stone tools unearthed at Cenjiawan site in Nihewan basin, northern China. An international research team led by Chinese scientists has found that East Asian hominins had possessed advanced stone tool technology as early as 1.1 million years ago, much earlier than previously thought. TO GO WITH "Scientists reveal stone tool technology of East Asian hominins 1.1 mln years ago" (Xinhua)

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Passenger trips on Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway hit 2 mln

STORY: Passenger trips on Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway hit 2 mln SHOOTING TIME: March 3, 2024 DATELINE: March 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:45 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of passengers at a railway station in Jakarta STORYLINE: The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), the first of its kind in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, has transported more than 2 million passengers in total, said China Railway International Limited on Sunday. According to the company, the HSR has been safely operating for 139 days, carrying a total of 2,008,387 passengers, since its official operation on Oct. 17, 2023. At present, the HSR's daily train trips have been increased from 14 to 40, and the number of passenger seats has tripled from 8,400 to more than 24,000. The highest number of passengers sent in a single day was 21,537, while the highest daily seat occupancy rate recorded was 99.6 percent. To better meet the needs of passengers, a dynamic fare policy was introduced, the operation

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Indian gov't approves rooftop solar scheme for 10 mln households

STORY: Indian gov't approves rooftop solar scheme for 10 mln households SHOOTING TIME: March 1, 2024 DATELINE: March 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:08 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of solar panel STORYLINE: The Indian government Thursday approved a scheme to install rooftop solar panels in 10 million households across the country, which will enable them to get free electricity up to 300 units per month. This will be a major push for renewable energy in the country. "Through this scheme, the households will be able to save electricity bills as well as earn additional income through sale of surplus power to DISCOMs (Distribution Companies)," reads an official statement. "The proposed scheme will result in addition of 30 GW of solar capacity through rooftop solar in the residential sector, generating 1,000 BUs of electricity and resulting in reduction of 720 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions over the 25-year lifetime of rooftop systems," the sta

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Mongolia on high alert for disaster as over half mln livestock frozen to death

STORY: Mongolia on high alert for disaster as over half mln livestock frozen to death SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 4/5, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 15, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:46 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of livestock STORYLINE: Mongolia has elevated its disaster preparedness to high alert as over half a million heads of livestock died in extreme cold weather, the Mongolian government's press office said Wednesday. Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene has ordered to take all possible measures to overcome the difficulties in the livestock sector and provide all-round support to herders, the press office said in a statement. As of Wednesday, a total of 508,039 heads of livestock have died, it said, adding that almost all provinces of the nomadic country have experienced harsh weather conditions this winter. Mongolia is one of the world's last surviving nomadic countries. The promotion of livestock husbandry is seen as the most viable solution to diversify the

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Afghan gov't clears electricity bills to neighboring states, pays 627 mln USD

STORY: Afghan gov't clears electricity bills to neighboring states, pays 627 mln USD SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 7, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various shots of power transmission line in Kabul, Afghanistan STORYLINE: The Afghan government has cleared all the dues of electricity bills to neighboring states, Hekmatullah Maiwandi, spokesman of the country's power company Da Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat, said in talks to Afghanistan's National Radio and Television (RTA). "We have paid 627 million U.S. dollars to clear all the dues of electricity bills left over from the previous government," the state-run RTA quoted Maiwandi on Wednesday as saying. The official also noted that Afghanistan imports 80 percent of its electricity from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The country also imports part of power from neighboring Iran. However, the official said the administration has been chalking out plans to generate electricity from domestic s