Economic analyst Takuro Morinaga

Economic analyst Takuro Morinaga

File photo taken in Tokorozawa in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on March 2, 2021, shows Japanese economic analyst Takuro Morinaga. Morinaga died of cancer on Jan. 28, 2025, at age 67.

Mpox Vaccine Maker Ready To Produce 10 Million Doses

Mpox Vaccine Maker Ready To Produce 10 Million Doses

Handout file photo dated March 2, 2021 of and operator in Bavarian Nordic vaccine manufacturing line in Kvistgard, Denmark. Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic said Thursday it was ready to produce up to 10 million doses of its vaccine targeting mpox by 2025 after the World Health Organization declared a surge in the virus in Africa a global public health emergency. Alarmed by a rise in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the spread of mpox to nearby countries, WHO experts said Wednesday that the "situation constitutes a public health emergency of international concern". Photo by Bavarian Nordic via ABACAPRESS.COM

Lukashenko elected as chair of All-Belarusian People's Assembly

STORY: Lukashenko elected as chair of All-Belarusian People's Assembly SHOOTING TIME: March April 24, 2024 DATELINE: April 25, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:22 LOCATION: Minsk CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Lukashenko delivering speech 2. various of people voting STORYLINE: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the chair of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly on Wednesday, according to local media reports. The All Belarusian People's Assembly is a general meeting of the Belarusian government with industry leaders and other top officials from every sector of the government. It has previously been held six times from 1996 to 2021. The assembly this year is convened in a newly empowered role, as established by amendments to the Belarusian constitution. It is now recognized as the premier representative body of democracy in Belarus, the BelTA news agency said. Under the new status, the All-Belarusian People's Assembly will convene at least once a year and its members will serve five-yea

Sino-German cooperation in exploring hydrogen energy

STORY: Sino-German cooperation in exploring hydrogen energy SHOOTING TIME: File/April 21, 2024 DATELINE: April 22, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: CHONGQING, China CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chongqing 2. SOUNDBITE (English): ANDRE POSCH, Battery Production Manager of Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. STORYLINE: China and Germany are joining hands to explore the "blue ocean" of hydrogen energy. Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., located in China's Chongqing, is a typical case of Sino-German cooperation in the field of hydrogen energy. It has successively launched a variety of hydrogen power products. This product range spans cold chain logistics, sanitation, and medium to heavy-duty long-haul transportation. SOUNDBITE (English): ANDRE POSCH, Battery Production Manager of Bosch Hydrogen Powertrain Systems (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. "We have started our joint venture here in March 2021. Since then, we have developed several products for the hydr

(ChineseToday)CHINA-GUANGDONG-SHENZHEN-AUTISTIC YOUTH (CN)

(ChineseToday)CHINA-GUANGDONG-SHENZHEN-AUTISTIC YOUTH (CN)

(240401) -- SHENZHEN, April 1, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Pan Yikai, a 23-year-old autistic youth, works at a bookstore in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 20, 2024. He has been working part-time at the bookstore since May 2022 for 2 to 3 hours a day, responsible for wiping and arranging book shelves and cleaning the floor. This Tuesday marks the 17th World Autism Awareness Day. In south China's Shenzhen, some autistic youth, who were called "children of the stars," have integrated into society and are chasing their dreams. Over recent years, autistic children in China have gained increasing attention and care. In 2022, China's National Health Commission released a trial protocol on autism screening and intervention services for children under the age of six to improve related services. The country has also released a work plan for improving special education for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). (Xinhua/Zhao Ruixi)

(ChineseToday)CHINA-GUANGDONG-SHENZHEN-AUTISTIC YOUTH (CN)

(ChineseToday)CHINA-GUANGDONG-SHENZHEN-AUTISTIC YOUTH (CN)

(240401) -- SHENZHEN, April 1, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Pan Yikai, a 23-year-old autistic youth, works at a bookstore in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 20, 2024. He has been working part-time at the bookstore since May 2022 for 2 to 3 hours a day, responsible for wiping and arranging book shelves and cleaning the floor. This Tuesday marks the 17th World Autism Awareness Day. In south China's Shenzhen, some autistic youth, who were called "children of the stars," have integrated into society and are chasing their dreams. Over recent years, autistic children in China have gained increasing attention and care. In 2022, China's National Health Commission released a trial protocol on autism screening and intervention services for children under the age of six to improve related services. The country has also released a work plan for improving special education for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

Int'l experts speak positively about rural revitalization in China

STORY: Int'l experts speak positively about rural revitalization in China SHOOTING TIME: File DATELINE: March 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:00 LOCATION: HAIKOU, China/Moscow/Cairo CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China's poverty alleviation 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KLAUS SCHUSTEREDER, Visiting scholar of Boao Forum for Asia 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): PAVEL KUZNETSOV, Deputy director, Institute of China and Modern Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): AMER TAMAM, Egyptian expert STORYLINE: China began to implement a rural revitalization strategy in 2017 to address the imbalance between urban and rural areas and between regions. In February 2021, China announced it had secured a "complete victory" in its fight against poverty. Over the past 40 years, China had lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty, accounting for over 75 percent of global poverty reduction in the same period. China has now embarked on a new journey of comprehensively promoting rural revitalization

Universal Beijing Resort kicks off 1st Spring Carnival

STORY: Universal Beijing Resort kicks off 1st Spring Carnival SHOOTING TIME: March 30, 2024 DATELINE: March 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Spring Carnival at the Universal Beijing Resort 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): Tourist 3. various of the Spring Carnival at the Universal Beijing Resort 4. various of the Universal Beijing Resort STORYLINE: Universal Beijing Resort on Saturday kicked off its first-ever Spring Carnival featuring festive characters, parade, food, dancing, and more. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): Tourist "I just danced for a while with my friends. These characters are difficult to meet if there's no meet and greet. Through this carnival, we can interact with them face to face." The carnival will last through May 26. The Universal Beijing Resort, the fifth Universal Studios theme park globally, began formal operations in September 2021. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

Xinhua Headlines: Logging ban sparks nature's rebirth in China's Khingan Mountains

Xinhua Headlines: Logging ban sparks nature's rebirth in China's Khingan Mountains

(240331) -- HARBIN, March 31, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on June 2, 2021 shows a view of a national forest park in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei)

One out of 10 Italians in absolute poverty last year: report

STORY: One out of 10 Italians in absolute poverty last year: report SHOOTING TIME: March 26, 2024 DATELINE: March 27, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:43 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the report of ISTAT 2. various of homeless people on the streets in Italy STORYLINE: One out of 10 Italians was living in absolute poverty last year, according to preliminary government data released on Monday. Italy's National Statistics Institute, ISTAT, said that 5.75 million Italians were living in absolute poverty in 2023, up from 5.67 million in 2022 and 5.32 million in 2021. Last year, this group amounted to 9.8 percent of the country's population. ISTAT defines a person living in absolute poverty as someone who lacks the resources to meet their basic needs such as food and clean drinking water, clothing, health care and shelter. ISTAT's data shows the highest levels of absolute poverty were reported in the largely agricultural southern regions, while the industrialized north showed the lowest l

Indian authority arrests Delhi chief minister over alleged excise policy scam

STORY: Indian authority arrests Delhi chief minister over alleged excise policy scam SHOOTING TIME: March 21, 2024 DATELINE: March 22, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. shots of India gate 2. various of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrival 3. various of AAP workers and supporters protesting STORYLINE: India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrival on alleged financial irregularities in an Excise Policy scam that took place in 2021. Kejriwal is also the chief of his political party, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Earlier, a team of ED officials had entered Kejriwal's official residence for questioning him in the alleged Delhi Liquor Policy Scam. Soon a large number of AAP workers and supporters gathered outside his residence to protest against ED's questioning. Over the past couple of months, the ED had sent several summons to Kejriwal for questioning him, but the chief minister evaded them, saying the ED had no authority

Injuries from animals hospitalized 23,000 Australians in 12 months: report

STORY: Injuries from animals hospitalized 23,000 Australians in 12 months: report SHOOTING TIME: March 13, 2024 DATELINE: March 15, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:22 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of venomous animals: snakes 2. various of dog attacking people 3. various of livestock: sheep, cows, hens STORYLINE: Over 20,000 Australians were hospitalized with injuries caused by animals in 2021-22 according to government data. A report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on Wednesday revealed that there were 23,380 injury hospitalizations related to animals in Australia in the 12 months to the end of June 2022. Of the total hospitalizations, the report said that cats and dogs were responsible for 53 percent, livestock for 22 percent, wildlife and venomous animals for 21 percent and marine animals for 2.2 percent. Out of every 100,000 people in Australia, 90.5 were hospitalized due to injuries caused by contact with animals in 2021-22 -- up from 66.5 per 1

"There's no end of opportunity" in China: DHL Express CEO

STORY: "There's no end of opportunity" in China: DHL Express CEO SHOOTING TIME: March 7, 2024 DATELINE: March 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:55 LOCATION: FRANKFURT, Germany CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the DHL 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOHN PEARSON, Global CEO of DHL Express 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOHN PEARSON, Global CEO of DHL Express 4. various of the logistics 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JOHN PEARSON, Global CEO of DHL Express 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JOHN PEARSON, Global CEO of DHL Express STORYLINE: German logistics giant DHL was one of the first international logistics companies to establish a presence in China. The country now plays a crucial role in the company's global strategy. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JOHN PEARSON, Global CEO of DHL Express "Like anything in China, there's no end of opportunity, there's no end of innovation. It's about which innovation fits us." DHL estimates its global market share at around 43 percent according to a 2021 survey. It has seen market share expansion thank

XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY

XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY

(240304) -- BEIJING, March 6, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Passengers get off a train from Ibadan at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 2, 2024. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support fo

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 2, 2024 shows freight trains waiting to be unloaded at Apapa port in Lagos, Nigeria. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support for the operation of the R

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Chinese driver Wei Rujun and local driver Serah Abiara are seen in the driving cab of a train before departure to Ibadan at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 2, 2024. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 2, 2024 shows a passenger train bound for Ibadan departing from the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese employee of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway instructs local trainees in Lagos, Nigeria, on Feb. 27, 2024. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support for the operation of the Railway, which

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese employee of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway instructs local trainees in Lagos, Nigeria, on Feb. 27, 2024. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support for the operation of the Railway, which

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Passengers are seen in the train to Ibadan at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 2, 2024. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 2, 2024 shows a view of the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support for

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 2, 2024 shows a view of the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support for

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

NIGERIA-LAGOS-IBADAN-CHINESE-BUILT RAILWAY-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

(240305) -- LAGOS, March 5, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Passengers get off a train from Ibadan at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station of the Lagos-Ibadan Railway in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 2, 2024. Built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the Lagos-Ibadan Railway connects Nigeria's economic center Lagos and the southwest industrial city Ibadan. Officially opened to traffic in June 2021 with a main line of about 157 kilometers long and a branch line of about 7 kilometers long, it adopts modern railway standards and has a designed speed of 150 kilometers per hour. The railway provides Africa's most populous country with an affordable and safe mode of transportation. It not only facilitates people's travel, but also helps improve the efficiency of port and inland cargo transportation. As of March 5, 2024, the Chinese-built Lagos-Ibadan Railway has been operating safely for 1,000 days, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million. Moreover, CCECC has provided all-round technical support for

U.S. Supreme Court rules Trump can remain on Colorado primary ballot

STORY: U.S. Supreme Court rules Trump can remain on Colorado primary ballot SHOOTING TIME: March 4, 2024, Feb. 20, 2024 DATELINE: March 5, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:32 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of exterior of the U.S. Supreme Court (March 4, 2024) 2. various of former U.S. President Donald Trump arriving in Greer, South Carolina (Feb. 20, 2024) STORYLINE: U.S. Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that former President Donald Trump can remain on the primary ballot in Colorado, rejecting the state's disqualification and potentially setting national wide guidelines. The nine justices, three liberal and six conservative, all agreed with the ruling. By deciding that states lack the authority to remove Trump from the ballot due to his involvement in the events preceding the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the Supreme Court delivered a significant victory to the former president, who is the frontrunner in the Republican presidential race. The U.S. Supreme Court declared that

What to expect at "two sessions" in pivotal year

STORY: What to expect at "two sessions" in pivotal year SHOOTING TIME: February 2024 & file DATELINE: March 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing 2. various of China STORYLINE: The upcoming annual sessions of China's top legislature and political advisory body will offer the world a window to observe the country's development and understand its policy direction for the following year. The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open on March 5 and 4, respectively. The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and is a crucial year for the realization of the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). At the "two sessions" each year, the annual economic development goals of the world's second-largest economy are

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

Chinese sports industry

Chinese sports industry

YANTAI, CHINA - MARCH 2, 2024 0- Senior citizens exercise at a square in Yantai, Shandong province, China, March 2, 2024. According to the National Fitness Plan (2021-2025) issued by The State Council, the total scale of China's sports industry will reach 5 trillion Chinese Yuan by 2025.

China-built light rail project commissioned in Nigeria

STORY: China-built light rail project commissioned in Nigeria SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 29, 2024 DATELINE: March 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:19 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Lagos city 2. various of Ikeja station of the Red Line rail corridor 3. various of the event 4. various of the project STORYLINE: The first phase of a China-built state-of-the-heart light rail project in Nigeria's southwestern state of Lagos was commissioned Thursday by President Bola Tinubu, opening a new chapter in addressing the challenges of traffic congestion and commuting delays that have long plagued the country's economic powerhouse. Undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in 2021, the transformative Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project is 26.5 km long, with eight stations. Cui Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, said the Lagos light rail project demonstrated a people-centered initiative while calling for a stronger partnership between the two friendly nations to

Italy's annual inflation rate lowest in 32 months

STORY: Italy's annual inflation rate lowest in 32 months SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 1, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:45 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Rome 2. various of price tags STORYLINE: The annual inflation rate in Italy fell to 0.8 percent in November 2023, the lowest recorded value since March 2021, according to government data. In November, the Italian national consumer price index for the entire collectivity, including tobacco products, recorded a decrease of 0.4 percent on a monthly basis and an increase of 0.8 percent on an annual basis. This was down from 1.7 percent in October, said ISTAT, the country's national statistics institute. Lower energy prices were the main factor pushing the inflation rate lower, ISTAT said, with non-regulated energy prices declining by 22.5 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, regulated energy prices declined by 36 percent in November compared to the year-ago period. In the meantime, inflation slowed for processed food

COVID-19 vaccine not responsible for sudden deaths in India: study

STORY: COVID-19 vaccine not responsible for sudden deaths in India: study SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 15, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:17 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of the India gate 2. various of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) 3. various of COVID-19 vaccination (file) 4. various of India STORYLINE: India's top health research body, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said on Tuesday a comprehensive study showed that COVID-19 vaccination was not responsible for unexplained sudden deaths among young adults in the country. The investigation, titled "Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India, a multicentric matched case-control study," was conducted between October 2021 and March 2023. It referred to certain factors that may increase the risk of sudden deaths. Among the causes, history of severe COVID-19 infection, binge-drinking, use of recreational drugs or substances are responsible for deaths

Netherlands holds parliamentary elections

STORY: Netherlands holds parliamentary elections SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 15/Nov. 22, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:44 LOCATION: Amsterdam CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of street scenes in Amsterdam 2. various of elections STORYLINE: The Netherlands kicked off on Wednesday a nationwide vote to elect a new parliament and a replacement for outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte. At 7:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), all 9,000 polling stations in the Netherlands opened their doors for the 2023 parliamentary elections. A total of 26 parties joined the race in a fragmented Dutch political landscape. Rutte, who led the past four governments, cast his vote on Wednesday morning in the Hague, for the last time as PM. The previous elections in March 2021 ended in a landslide victory for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) of Rutte with 34 of the 150 seats. According to the latest polls conducted by Peilingwijzer and cited by national broadcaster NOS, four parties are in the race to bec

Japan to start ocean discharge of Fukushima nuke wastewater Thursday

STORY: Japan to start ocean discharge of Fukushima nuke wastewater Thursday DATELINE: Aug. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant 2. various of people opposing 3. various of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and local fishermen STORYLINE: The Japanese government announced Tuesday it has decided to start releasing nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean on Thursday. The decision was made amid strong opposition from neighboring and Pacific island countries, as well as local fishermen over the irreversible impacts on the marine environment and public health. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, hit by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, suffered core meltdowns that released radiation. In April 2021, the Japanese government announced its controversial plan to release nuclear-contaminated water from the facilit

Spain registers 3.3 pct inflation in March

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

India's annual exports grow at nearly 14 pct: commerce ministry

STORY: India's annual exports grow at nearly 14 pct: commerce ministry DATELINE: April 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of wholesale market 3. various of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) 4. various of street view STORYLINE: India's total exports, including merchandise and services, stood at 770.18 billion U.S. dollars, in fiscal 2023, up around 13.84 percent over the previous financial year (April 2021-March 2022), said official data released on Thursday. According to the data by the federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, merchandise exports registered the highest figure of 447.46 billion dollars, with a 6.03 percent growth during the 2022-23 financial year (April 2022-March 2023). Services exports led the overall export growth and are projected to set a new record annual value of 322.72 billion dollars with a growth rate of 26.79 percent during the current financial year over the previous year. In an offici

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

(230402) -- BELGRADE, April 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People attend the opening ceremony of a highway section in Belgrade, Serbia, April 1, 2023. A highway section linking New Belgrade to Surcin of Serbia was opened for traffic on Saturday. The section, a part of the E-763 highway, is around 8-kilometer long and has three lanes in each direction, a five-meter dividing strip, two-meter-wide pedestrian paths, and bicycle lanes. The construction of the section began in March 2021 and was conducted by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

(230402) -- BELGRADE, April 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (front) attends the opening ceremony of a highway section in Belgrade, Serbia, April 1, 2023. A highway section linking New Belgrade to Surcin of Serbia was opened for traffic on Saturday. The section, a part of the E-763 highway, is around 8-kilometer long and has three lanes in each direction, a five-meter dividing strip, two-meter-wide pedestrian paths, and bicycle lanes. The construction of the section began in March 2021 and was conducted by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

(230402) -- BELGRADE, April 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Chinese ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo (front) addresses the opening ceremony of a highway section in Belgrade, Serbia, April 1, 2023. A highway section linking New Belgrade to Surcin of Serbia was opened for traffic on Saturday. The section, a part of the E-763 highway, is around 8-kilometer long and has three lanes in each direction, a five-meter dividing strip, two-meter-wide pedestrian paths, and bicycle lanes. The construction of the section began in March 2021 and was conducted by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

SERBIA-BELGRADE-CHINA-HIGHWAY-OPENING

(230402) -- BELGRADE, April 2, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (front) addresses the opening ceremony of a highway section in Belgrade, Serbia, April 1, 2023. A highway section linking New Belgrade to Surcin of Serbia was opened for traffic on Saturday. The section, a part of the E-763 highway, is around 8-kilometer long and has three lanes in each direction, a five-meter dividing strip, two-meter-wide pedestrian paths, and bicycle lanes. The construction of the section began in March 2021 and was conducted by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). (Xinhua/Shi Zhongyu)

Highway section in Serbia built by Chinese company opened to traffic

STORY: Highway section in Serbia built by Chinese company opened to traffic DATELINE: April 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:58 LOCATION: Belgrade CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the newly built road section STORYLINE: A highway section linking New Belgrade to Surcin of Serbia was opened for traffic on Saturday. The section, a part of the E-763 highway, is around 8 kilometers long. It has three lanes in each direction, a five-meter dividing strip, two-meter-wide pedestrian paths, and bicycle lanes. Construction of the section began in March 2021 and was conducted by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The project, worth about 70.5 million U.S. dollars, is of high priority for Serbia as it will enable a fast connection between Belgrade and the E-763 highway and create a short link between Belgrade and the Adriatic Sea. Attending the opening ceremony in Belgrade on Saturday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia is heading into new infrastructural investments thank

E-commerce booming in Türkiye despite economic woes

STORY: E-commerce booming in Türkiye despite economic woes DATELINE: March 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:52 LOCATION: ANKARA CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people on the streets and at shopping in Türkiye 2. various of websites about e-commerce in Türkiye 3. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): DOGUKAN YAVUZ, E-commerce expert STORYLINE: Offering good deals to cash-strapped Turkish consumers in search of better value, online shopping is growing in Türkiye amid the cost of living squeeze. According to an annual report revealed by IdeaSoft, Türkiye's largest supplier of e-commerce infrastructure for small, medium, and large-sized companies, online commerce has grown by 74 percent in 2022. The e-commerce sales in Türkiye soared 69 percent in 2021 from the previous year, according to official data. Experts said that the reason behind this e-commerce boom is that consumers' tendency is to buy cheap stuff online as they lost considerable purchasing power in the past couple of years due to soaring inflation. The sectors

Indian gov't exempts basic customs duty on drugs for rare diseases

STORY: Indian gov't exempts basic customs duty on drugs for rare diseases DATELINE: March 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:09 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of buildings 3. various of hospitals 4. various of medicine shops STORYLINE: The Indian government on Thursday said basic customs duty on all imported drugs and food for special medical purposes for personal use for the treatment of all rare diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 has been exempted. According to the federal finance ministry, an individual importer has to produce a certificate from the health department officials to avail exemption. Drugs and medicines otherwise attract basic customs duty of 10 percent, while some categories of lifesaving drugs and vaccines attract a concessional rate of 5 percent or nil. As per the official notification, the import duty waiver will come into effect from April 1. Officials said the exemption will result in substantial cost sa

India's annual exports cross 750 bln USD: minister

STORY: India's annual exports cross 750 bln USD: minister DATELINE: March 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. shots of India gate 2. shots of government buildings 3. shots of the wholesale market area 4. shots of export containers STORYLINE: India's overall exports crossed an all-time high of 750 billion U.S. dollars in the current financial year 2022-23, said the Federal Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday. According to the minister, India's overall exports have grown by nearly 250 billion dollars during the past three years. "The exports have risen from 500 billion dollars in 2020-2021 to this figure in extremely challenging times," Goyal said at the annual session of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. India aims to become a self-reliant nation, and "making India self-reliant is not about closing doors but about opening them wider," he added. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

U.S. in sad state of life expectancy: NPR

STORY: U.S. in sad state of life expectancy: NPR DATELINE: March 29, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:36 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): XIA LIN, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of cities in the U.S. STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): XIA LIN, Xinhua correspondent "Just before Christmas, U.S. federal health officials confirmed life expectancy in the United States had dropped for a nearly unprecedented second year in a row, down to 76 years, reported the National Public Radio (NPR) on March 25." 'While countries all over the world saw life expectancy rebound during the second year of the pandemic after the arrival of vaccines, the U.S. did not.' Then, last week, more bad news: Maternal mortality in the U.S. reached a high in 2021. Also, a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association found rising mortality rates among U.S. children and adolescents. 'Across the lifespan, and across every demographic group, Americans die at younger ages than their counterparts in other wea

U.S.-hosted Summit for Democracy divides the world: expert

STORY: U.S.-hosted Summit for Democracy divides the world: expert DATELINE: March 28, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:08 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of streets in Washington D.C. 2. SOUNDBITE (English): ZOON AHMED KHAN, Research Fellow, Belt and Road Institute, Tsinghua University STORYLINE: The United States will host the second Summit for Democracy on March 29-30. A Pakistani scholar says the summit is not for uniting the world but to divide it and democracy has been used as a tool by the United States to serve its interests. SOUNDBITE (English): ZOON AHMED KHAN, Research Fellow, Belt and Road Institute, Tsinghua University "In 2021, there was a 'Summit of Democracy,' and this was a summit that was meant to divide those countries that are considered democratic in the United States' perspective and fitting them against those that they consider to be undemocratic. Those that conform to the American understanding of what it is to be democratic and those that don't. And I think this is an u