Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

A ship sails on the Suez Canal in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, July 13, 2024. The Suez Canal transit receipts decreased by 57.2 percent to register 959.3 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024, according to a statement released on Monday by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, Yemen's Houthi group has repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea that have links to Israel. Photo by Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

A ship sails on the Suez Canal in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, July 13, 2024. The Suez Canal transit receipts decreased by 57.2 percent to register 959.3 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024, according to a statement released on Monday by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, Yemen's Houthi group has repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea that have links to Israel. Photo by Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

A ship sails on the Suez Canal in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, July 13, 2024. The Suez Canal transit receipts decreased by 57.2 percent to register 959.3 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024, according to a statement released on Monday by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, Yemen's Houthi group has repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea that have links to Israel. Photo by Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

Revenues Of Suez Canal Drop By 57.2 pct - Egypt

A ship sails on the Suez Canal in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, July 13, 2024. The Suez Canal transit receipts decreased by 57.2 percent to register 959.3 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024, according to a statement released on Monday by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, Yemen's Houthi group has repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea that have links to Israel. Photo by Ahmed Gomaa/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-CHILDREN

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-CHILDREN

(240709) -- KABUL, July 9, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- Afghan children collect garbage in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2024. Over 24 percent of Afghan children between 5 and 17 years old experience anxiety in the war-ravaged country, said a report released by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Monday. TO GO WITH "Over 24 pct of Afghan children experience anxiety: UNICEF" (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-CHILDREN

AFGHANISTAN-KABUL-CHILDREN

(240709) -- KABUL, July 9, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- An Afghan child sells cucumber in Kabul, Afghanistan, July 9, 2024. Over 24 percent of Afghan children between 5 and 17 years old experience anxiety in the war-ravaged country, said a report released by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Monday. TO GO WITH "Over 24 pct of Afghan children experience anxiety: UNICEF" (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong up 20 pct in May

STORY: Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong up 20 pct in May SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: June 18, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: HONG KONG, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourists in Hong Kong, China STORYLINE: Hong Kong saw about 3.4 million visitor arrivals in May, up around 20 percent year on year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said Monday. In the first five months of this year, Hong Kong registered about 18 million tourist arrivals, an increase of about 80 percent year-on-year, the tourism board said in a press release. The initial data showed that in May, Hong Kong recorded about 2.63 million visitor arrivals from the Chinese mainland, up 15 percent from last year. The number of visitors outside the mainland saw a year-on-year increase of 43 percent to about 770,000. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China. (XHTV)

U.S. Fed keeps interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.5 pct as inflation cools

STORY: U.S. Fed keeps interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.5 pct as inflation cools SHOOTING TIME: June 12, 2024 DATELINE: June 13, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference STORYLINE: The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday left interest rates unchanged at a 22-year high of 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent as the latest consumer price data shows that inflation seems to be cooling. In a statement after the two-day policy meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed's policy-setting body, reiterated that the committee does not expect it will be appropriate to reduce the target range "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent." In addition, the committee will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities, the FOMC said. The Fed's announcement came just a few hours after the U.S. Labor Department reported that the

19 pct children engaged in child labor in Afghanistan: OCHA

STORY: 19 pct children engaged in child labor in Afghanistan: OCHA SHOOTING DATE: June 12, 2024 DATELINE: June 13, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:11 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of children working in a brick factory 2. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): FOLAD, Afghan child 3. various of children working in a brick factory STORYLINE: Nineteen percent of children are engaged in child labor in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan office of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Wednesday. "The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is trying to prevent child labor and support their families. The ministry has activated training centers for orphaned children and has provided vocational training along with other assistance to the children," local media outlet TOLOnews quoted the ministry's spokesperson Samiullah Rahimi as saying on Wednesday. Folad is an Afghan child working at a brick factory in Dehsabz district of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul. SOUNDBITE (Pashto): F

China provides 80 pct of school uniform materials in Sri Lanka: minister

STORY: China provides 80 pct of school uniform materials in Sri Lanka: minister SHOOTING DATE: June 7, 2024 DATELINE: June 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:40 LOCATION: Colombo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the handover ceremony of school uniform materials 2. various of address by Sri Lankan Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha 3. various of address by Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong 4. various of the handover ceremony 5. various of group photo STORYLINE: About 80 percent of the school uniform materials in Sri Lanka in 2024 were provided through a Chinese grant, said Sri Lankan Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha at the handover ceremony of school uniform materials granted by China on Friday. "China is a friendly country and always our friends in need, and this kind of supply had been done before many years. I would take this opportunity once again to say thank you," said Premajayantha. Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said China has never been absent when Sri Lanka needs help, and childre

Italy's growth forecast for 2024 revised up to 1 pct: ISTAT

STORY: Italy's growth forecast for 2024 revised up to 1 pct: ISTAT SHOOTING TIME: June 7, 2024 DATELINE: June 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Italy STORYLINE: The Italian economy is expected to grow by 1 percent this year, the country's National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) said on Thursday, revising up a previous 0.7 percent projection. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate "will be supported by the contribution of both domestic net demand of inventories and net foreign demand," ISTAT said in its report. Italy, the third largest economy in the European Union after Germany and France, will then expand by 1.1 percent in 2025. Overall, ISTAT said that private consumption in the country continues to be supported by the strengthening of the labor market and an increase in real wages. "These dynamics will lead to a growth of 0.4 percent in household consumption in 2024 and of 1 percent in 2025," it said. The labor market is also expected

Australian minimum wage to rise by 3.75 pct

STORY: Australian minimum wage to rise by 3.75 pct SHOOTING TIME: June 4, 2024 DATELINE: June 6, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Fair Work Commission (FWC) office 2. various of Australians in different professions 3. various of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) building STORYLINE: Australia's minimum wage will rise by 3.75 percent from the start of July, industrial relations tribunal the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled on Monday. From July 1, the minimum wage will increase from 23.23 Australian dollars (15.47 U.S. dollars) per hour to 24.10 Australian dollars (16.05 U.S. dollars) per hour, or 915.90 Australian dollars (609.99 U.S. dollars) per week based on a 38-hour week, FWC said. According to the commission, 20.7 percent of the Australian workforce, or approximately 2.6 million people, are paid minimum wage rates. After accounting for flow-on effects, the FWC estimates that the increase to the minimum wage will affect a quarter of a

Meloni boasts 60 pct decrease in illegal refugee arrivals in Italy

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

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

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

Türkiye's annual inflation exceeds 75 pct in May

STORY: Türkiye's annual inflation exceeds 75 pct in May SHOOTING TIME: June 2-3, 2024/Archives DATELINE: June 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people shopping in Istanbul, Türkiye (Shooting date: May 17, 2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 2. various of people at a discount cafe in Samsun, Türkiye (Shooting date: June 2, 2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 3. various of people at a fish bazaar in Düzce, Türkiye (Shooting date: June 3, 2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 4. various of people shopping in Safranbolu, Türkiye (Shooting date: June 2, 2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) STORYLINE: Türkiye's annual inflation rate rose to 75.45 percent in May, the highest since November 2022, reaching the peak expected by the government and economists, according to official data released on Monday. Consumer prices rose by 3.37 percent in May, compared to an increase of 3.18 percent in April, as per data from the Turkish Statistical Institute. The highe

India's GDP grows by 8.2 pct

STORY: India's GDP grows by 8.2 pct SHOOTING TIME: June 1, 2024 DATELINE: June 2, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:32 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of market area 3. various of fuel station 4. various of the Reserve Bank of India STORYLINE: India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth during the previous financial year from April 2023 to March 2024 recorded a jump of nearly 1.2 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by the federal Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation on Friday. The country's GDP grew 8.2 percent for the full year, and 7.8 percent during the last quarter (January-March 2024) of the financial year, it said. According to media reports, the GDP growth was better than what most economists had predicted. The Reserve Bank of India had forecasted a 6.9-percent growth in real GDP for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2023-2024, with a full-year projection of 7.6 percent. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from N

Turkish economy grows by 5.7 pct in Q1

STORY: Turkish economy grows by 5.7 pct in Q1 SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: June 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:36 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of an engine factory in Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 2. various of textile factories in Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 3. various of Türkiye's Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek 4. various of an iron products factory in Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 5. various of construction sites in Türkiye (courtesy of Hatay Municipality) STORYLINE: The Turkish economy grew 5.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, slightly above expectations, according to official figures on Friday. Thus, the Turkish economy has grown for 15 consecutive quarters since the second quarter of 2020, when COVID-19 pandemic measures were implemented, the data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute shows. Despite the ongoing monetary tightening policy, household consumption accelerated in the run-up to the local e

Hong Kong's value of total export up 11.9 pct in April

STORY: Hong Kong's value of total export up 11.9 pct in April SHOOTING TIME: File DATELINE: May 28, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:45 LOCATION: HONG KONG, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of ports in Hong Kong STORYLINE: The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Monday that in April 2024, the values of Hong Kong's total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 11.9 percent and 3.7 percent respectively. In April, the value of total exports of goods was 378.7 billion HK dollars (about 48.5 billion U.S. dollars), and the value of imports of goods was 388.9 billion HK dollars. A visible trade deficit of 10.2 billion HK dollars, equivalent to 2.6 percent of the value of imports of goods, was recorded. A spokesman for the HKSAR government said that the value of merchandise exports grew notably in April 2024 over a year earlier. Looking ahead, Hong Kong's export performance should improve further if externa

CAMBODIA-KRATIE-MEKONG RIVER BRIDGE-CONSTRUCTION

CAMBODIA-KRATIE-MEKONG RIVER BRIDGE-CONSTRUCTION

(240525) -- KRATIE, May 25, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the construction site of the Mekong River bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. TO GO WITH "Feature: Work on China's BRI-backed Mekong River bridge in NE Cambodia in full swing, with 51 pct completed" (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

CAMBODIA-KRATIE-MEKONG RIVER BRIDGE-CONSTRUCTION

CAMBODIA-KRATIE-MEKONG RIVER BRIDGE-CONSTRUCTION

(240525) -- KRATIE, May 25, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on May 23, 2024 shows the construction site of the Mekong River bridge in Kratie province, Cambodia. TO GO WITH "Feature: Work on China's BRI-backed Mekong River bridge in NE Cambodia in full swing, with 51 pct completed" (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

Turkish central bank keeps policy rate unchanged at 50 pct

STORY: Turkish central bank keeps policy rate unchanged at 50 pct SHOOTING TIME: File DATELINE: May 24, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:06 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Turkish central bank 2. various of Turkish lira 3. various of Turkish central bank 4. various of Turkish lira 5. various of Turkish central bank STORYLINE: Türkiye's central bank announced on Thursday that it would keep its interest rate unchanged at 50 percent, which is in line with market expectations. "Considering the lagged effects of the monetary tightening, the committee decided to keep the policy rate unchanged but reiterated that it remains highly attentive to inflation risks," the bank said in a statement. The bank said that the underlying trend of monthly inflation registered a limited decline in April, while the recent indicators point to a slowdown in domestic demand compared to the first quarter. Meanwhile, consumption goods imports increased in April, limiting the improvement in the current account balance.

Nigerian central bank further raises interest rate to over 26 pct

STORY: Nigerian central bank further raises interest rate to over 26 pct SHOOTING TIME: May 22, 2024 DATELINE: May 23, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:09 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a busy street in Nigeria 2. various of the central bank building 3. various of press briefing by central bank officials 4. SOUNDBITE (English): YEMI CARDOSO, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria STORYLINE: Nigeria's central bank on Tuesday further raised the benchmark interest rate, pushing it by 150 basis points to 26.25 percent, in a move to combat the country's persistent inflation. This latest hike marks a continuation of Nigeria's aggressive monetary tightening strategy aimed at stabilizing the economy. It is the third consecutive one this year, since February, to raise the baseline interest rate known as the monetary policy rate. Yemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who chairs the Monetary Policy Committee, told the media at the end of a meeting in the capital of Abuja that th

Nigeria inaugurates key gas projects to increase supply by over 25 pct

STORY: Nigeria inaugurates key gas projects to increase supply by over 25 pct SHOOTING TIME: May 15, 2024 DATELINE: May 17, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:32 LOCATION: Abuja CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the virtual inauguration ceremony of the projects 2. various of the gas projects 3. SOUNDBITE (English): BOLA TINUBU, President of Nigeria STORYLINE: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated three pivotal gas projects in an ambitious move to support the most populous African nation's energy sector and promote industrial growth. The simultaneous inauguration of the expanded AHL Gas Processing Plant, the ANOH Gas Processing Plant and the 23.3-km ANOH to Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Custody Transfer Metering Station Gas Pipeline, all in the southeastern part of the country, was chaired virtually by Tinubu from his office in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, Wednesday. SOUNDBITE (English): BOLA TINUBU, President of Nigeria "In practical terms, this is more gas to the power sector, more gas to industr

Australian unemployment rate rises to 4.1 pct

STORY: Australian unemployment rate rises to 4.1 pct SHOOTING TIME: May 15, 2024 DATELINE: May 17, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of ABS House 2. various of Canberra employees STORYLINE: Australia's unemployment rate rose for a second straight month to 4.1 percent in April. According to official figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday, the unemployment rate rose from 3.9 percent in March to 4.1 percent in April -- the equal-highest rate since January 2022. The rise in the unemployment rate came despite the number of employed Australians increasing by 38,500 people between March and April, with a 44,600 rise in part-time positions partially offset by a 6,100 fall in full-time roles. In the same period, the number of unemployed people -- meaning those who are not employed but are actively looking for work -- rose by 30,300 to 604,200. The participation rate, which measures the proportion of the working-age popu

India's wholesale inflation rises to 1.26 pct in April

STORY: India's wholesale inflation rises to 1.26 pct in April SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:11 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of the wholesale market 3. various of fuel station STORYLINE: India's wholesale price index (WPI) rose 1.26 percent in April, according to data released Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry. "The annual rate of inflation based on all India WPI number is 1.26 percent (provisional) for the month of April 2024 (over April 2023)," read a statement issued by the ministry. "Positive rate of inflation in April 2024 is primarily due to increase in prices of food articles, electricity, crude petroleum and natural gas, manufacture of food products, other manufacturing etc." WPI for the month of March was recorded as 0.53 percent. WPI inflation, an indicator of prices in the wholesale market, rises or falls mainly due to steep increase or decrease in commodity prices globall

Japan's economy contracts annualized 2 pct in January-March

STORY: Japan's economy contracts annualized 2 pct in January-March SHOOTING TIME: April 30 & May 4, 2024 DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:42 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo 2. various of banks in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's economy shrank by an annualized 2.0 percent in the January-March period from the prior quarter, marking the first contraction in two quarters amid sluggish consumer spending, the latest GDP figures showed Thursday. Real gross domestic product (GDP) in this year's first quarter, adjusted for inflation, fell 0.5 percent from the previous quarter, according to preliminary data released by the Cabinet Office. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP, dropped 0.7 percent. It was the fourth straight quarter of decline, the longest streak since 2009, underscoring sluggish domestic demand. Capital spending fell 0.8 percent, down for the first time in two quarters, as Japanese firms curbed investment in mach

Australian inflation projected to fall below 3 pct in 2024

STORY: Australian inflation projected to fall below 3 pct in 2024 SHOOTING TIME: May 13, 2024 DATELINE: May 15, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of grocery stores in Canberra 2. various of a shopping center in Canberra 3. various of a petrol station in Canberra STORYLINE: Australia's inflation rate is set to return to the central bank's target band by the end of 2024, the government has forecast. According to projections released by the Treasury on Sunday, inflation will fall to 2.75 percent by December and to 2.5 percent by the end of 2025. The Treasury projections suggest that inflation will fall back to the Reserve Bank of Australia's target band of 2-3 percent one year earlier than forecast by the bank in its outlook published earlier in May. The central bank's forecast does not account for unannounced measures included in Chalmer's budget whereas the Treasury's does. "Inflation is still the big near-term challenge in our economy which is

India's retail inflation eases to 4.83 pct in April

STORY: India's retail inflation eases to 4.83 pct in April SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: May 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:20 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the India Gate 2. various of a market STORYLINE: India's retail inflation eased to 4.83 percent in April, the latest government data showed Monday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation for April stood at 4.83 percent, compared with 4.85 percent recorded in March, according to the data released by the federal ministry of statistics and program implementation (MoSPI). The food inflation rose to 8.70 percent in April from 8.52 percent in March, the data showed. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

Indonesia's economy grows 5.11 pct in Q1

STORY: Indonesia's economy grows 5.11 pct in Q1 SHOOTING TIME: May 6, 2024 DATELINE: May 7, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:24 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference 2. various of the financial sector in Indonesia 3. various of a port in Indonesia 4. various of Jakarta STORYLINE: Indonesia's economy grew by 5.11 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, Statistics Indonesia BPS announced on Monday. The quarterly growth marks the highest for a first quarter since 2015, said acting head of BPS Amalia Widyasanti, adding the Southeast Asian country had recorded a growth of 5.12 percent in the first quarter of 2014. However, "Compared to the previous quarter, economic growth contracted 0.83 percent," said the official at a press conference. The main contributors to the economic growth in the first quarter in terms of production are the processing, trade, construction and mining sectors, according to her. "In the first quarter of 2024, the manufacturing

Volvo car sales see 27 pct rise in April

STORY: Volvo car sales see 27 pct rise in April SHOOTING TIME: May 6, 2024 DATELINE: May 7, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Stockholm CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a Volvo showroom in Stockholm, Sweden 2. various of a Volvo production line (source: Volvo Group) 3. various of running footage of a Volvo car (source: Volvo Group) 4. various of traffic in Stockholm, Sweden STORYLINE: Sales of Volvo Cars soared by 27 percent in April 2024 compared to the same month last year, the carmaker said on Monday. The company sold 65,838 vehicles in April, an increase Volvo said was mainly driven by sales in Europe, which were up by 65 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, global sales of electrified models were up 56 percent, and fully electric models were up by 94 percent compared with April 2023, the company said. From January through April, 214,914 vehicles were sold, corresponding to a 16 percent increase compared with the same period last year. "This performance demonstrates we are making goo

U.S. unemployment rate ticks up to 3.9 pct in April as job growth slows

STORY: U.S. unemployment rate ticks up to 3.9 pct in April as job growth slows SHOOTING TIME: May 3, 2024 DATELINE: May 4, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:12 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of exterior of U.S. Labor Department 2. various of street views in Washington D.C. 3. various of a subway train in Washington D.C. 4. various of a freight train in the U.S. 5. various of American Airlines airplanes STORYLINE: U.S. employers added fewer-than-expected 175,000 jobs in April, with the unemployment rate again ticking up to 3.9 percent, the U.S. Labor Department reported Friday. Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and transportation and warehousing, according to the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 175,000 in April, lower than the average monthly gain of 242,000 over the prior 12 months, the report noted. In February, the unemployment rate increased to 3.9 percent, the highest level in two years, before sli

Türkiye's annual inflation nears 70 pct in April

STORY: Türkiye's annual inflation nears 70 pct in April SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: May 4, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:27 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people shopping in a bazaar in Türkiye (April 20, 2024) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) 2. various of tourists at a hotel in Türkiye (April 5, 2024) 3. various of people at cafes and restaurants in Türkiye (April 29, 2024) 4. various of people at an intercity bus terminal in Türkiye (July 19, 2023) (courtesy of ihlas news agency) STORYLINE: Türkiye's annual inflation rate rose to 69.8 percent in April, the highest in one and a half years, according to official data released on Friday. The annual consumer inflation continued to rise, mainly due to the increase in service prices. According to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute, the monthly consumer price index increased by 3.18 percent in April. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco saw the highest price increase of 9.56 percent in the month, followed by

OECD revises up Türkiye's 2024 growth forecast to 3.4 pct

STORY: OECD revises up Türkiye's 2024 growth forecast to 3.4 pct SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: May 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:15 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a port in Türkiye (recent footage) 2. various of a textile factory in Türkiye (recent footage) 3. various of a customs gate in Türkiye (recent footage) STORYLINE: The Turkish economy is expected to grow at 3.4 percent this year and 3.2 percent in 2025, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Thursday, revising up its February projection of 2.9 percent for 2024. In its economic outlook report, the OECD said Türkiye's real GDP growth was projected to slow from 4.5 percent in 2023 to 3.4 percent in 2024. Tighter financial conditions and the adverse impact of inflation on purchasing power in the country will subdue household consumption, the report said, reminding that inflation peaked at the beginning of this year but will remain elevated over 2024 and 2025. Despite tighter financial con

Laos' inflation eases slightly to 24.92 pct in April

STORY: Laos' inflation eases slightly to 24.92 pct in April SHOOTING TIME: May 2, 2024 DATELINE: May 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:26 LOCATION: Vientiane CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a bank in Laos 2. various of a road in Laos 3. various of a market in Laos STORYLINE: Laos recorded an inflation rate of 24.92 percent in April, a slight decrease from 24.98 percent in March, the Lao Statistics Bureau said on Monday. According to the report released by the Lao Statistics Bureau on its website, the unstable price of fuel, gas and other imported goods, together with the depreciation of the Lao currency kip, are among the main drivers of the inflation. The highest price rise in April was recorded in the clothing and footwear category, which stood at 37.62 percent year-on-year. Other categories included medical care and medicines at 36.09 percent, alcohol and tobacco at 28.52 percent, household goods at 27.08 percent, and communications and transport at 25.99 percent. Laos' economy is exposed

U.S. Fed keeps interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.5 pct as inflation ticks up

STORY: U.S. Fed keeps interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.5 pct as inflation ticks up SHOOTING TIME: May 1, 2024 DATELINE: May 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Jerome Powell at the press conference STORYLINE: The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday left interest rates unchanged at a 22-year high of 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent as recent consumer data indicates that inflation continued to tick up. "Inflation has eased over the past year but remains elevated. In recent months, there has been a lack of further progress toward the Committee's 2 percent inflation objective," the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed's policy-setting body, said in a statement released after the Fed's two-day policy meeting. "The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee remains highly attentive to inflation risks," the statement read. Beginning in June, the Committee will slow the pace of decline of its securities holdings by reducing the monthly

Türkiye's foreign trade deficit decreases by 12 pct in March

STORY: Türkiye's foreign trade deficit decreases by 12 pct in March SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: May 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of containers at port in Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency) (date:14.04.2024) 2. various of U.S. dollar (date:13.11.2023) 3. various of the trucks carrying goods at a customs gate in Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency) (date:10.04.2024) STORYLINE: Türkiye's foreign trade deficit declined by 12.4 percent in March from a year ago to 7.3 billion U.S. dollars, according to official data announced on Tuesday. In the January-March period, the foreign trade deficit decreased by 41.5 percent from 34.79 billion dollars to 20.34 billion dollars, the figures of the Turkish Statistical Institute showed. The country's exports decreased by 4.1 percent to 22.57 billion dollars in March compared to the same month last year, while imports decreased by 6.3 percent to 29.9 billion dollars. The improvement in the a

Australian inflation rate slows to 3.6 pct

STORY: Australian inflation rate slows to 3.6 pct SHOOTING TIME: April 26, 2024 DATELINE: April 28, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:07 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a supermarket 2. various of street views in Australia STORYLINE: Australia's annual rate of inflation has fallen to 3.6 percent, according to official figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday. The figure showed that the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 1.0 percent in the first three months of 2024 and 3.6 percent in the 12 months to the end of March. It marks a fall from a 4.1 percent rise in the CPI in the 12-month period to the end of December 2023. The ABS identified rising costs of education, health, housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages as the most significant drivers of inflation in the first quarter of 2024. Housing prices were 0.7 percent higher at the end of March than at the start of 2024 and 4.9 percent higher than 12 months earlier. Education costs rose 5.

Ghana aims to cut malaria deaths by 90 pct by 2028: official

STORY: Ghana aims to cut malaria deaths by 90 pct by 2028: official SHOOTING TIME: April 25, 2024 DATELINE: April 27, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:44 LOCATION: Accra CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of blood tests 2. various of the World Malaria Day 3. SOUNDBITE (English): NANA YAW PEPRAH, Deputy program manager of the National Malaria Elimination Program STORYLINE: Ghana aims to reduce malaria deaths by 90 percent by 2028, Nana Yaw Peprah, deputy program manager of the National Malaria Elimination Program in Ghana, said on Thursday. Peprah said on the sidelines of an event marking World Malaria Day in the Ghanaian capital of Accra that the country would start piloting mass drug administration in selected districts to treat all positive malaria cases promptly. He added that under the program, chemoprevention will be introduced to reduce the incidence of malaria and malaria deaths among infants and children, who are most vulnerable to the disease. Even though the project requires a lot of investment,

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

(240426) -- ACCRA, April 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A man measures blood pressure at an event marking the World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2024. TO GO WITH "Ghana aims to cut malaria deaths by 90 pct by 2028" (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

(240426) -- ACCRA, April 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A man receives malaria test at an event marking the World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2024. TO GO WITH "Ghana aims to cut malaria deaths by 90 pct by 2028" (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

(240426) -- ACCRA, April 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A man receives malaria test at an event marking the World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2024. TO GO WITH "Ghana aims to cut malaria deaths by 90 pct by 2028" (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

GHANA-ACCRA-WORLD MALARIA DAY-EVENT

(240426) -- ACCRA, April 26, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A man receives malaria test at an event marking the World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2024. TO GO WITH "Ghana aims to cut malaria deaths by 90 pct by 2028" (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

U.S. GDP growth slows to annual rate of 1.6 pct in Q1

STORY: U.S. GDP growth slows to annual rate of 1.6 pct in Q1 SHOOTING TIME: April 25, 2024 DATELINE: April 26, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:06 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of exterior of U.S. Department of Commerce (April 25, 2024) STORYLINE: The U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate slowed down to an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported on Thursday. The latest data marks a sharp slowdown from the fourth quarter in 2023, when GDP grew by 3.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Compared to the fourth quarter, the deceleration of real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected decelerations in consumer spending, exports, and state and local government spending and a downturn in federal government spending. These movements were partly offset by an acceleration in residential fixed investment. The newly released GDP estimate for the first quarter, in what was called an "advance" e

Turkish central bank keeps policy rate unchanged at 50 pct

STORY: Turkish central bank keeps policy rate unchanged at 50 pct SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: April 26, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Ankara CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Turkish Central Bank 2. various of Turkish lira STORYLINE: Türkiye's central bank on Thursday kept its interest rate unchanged at 50 percent, saying that the monetary policy decisions in March have led to a significant tightening in financial conditions. "Considering the lagged effects of the monetary tightening, the committee decided to keep the policy rate unchanged, but reiterated that it remains highly attentive to inflation risks," the bank said in a statement, adding that it will maintain the tight monetary stance until a significant and sustained decline in monthly inflation is observed. Despite the ongoing decline, the underlying trend of monthly inflation in March was higher than expected, the statement said. "While imports of consumer goods and gold contribute to the improvement in the current

NW China's Xinjiang sees foreign trade value up 42.7 pct in Q1

STORY: NW China's Xinjiang sees foreign trade value up 42.7 pct in Q1 SHOOTING TIME: April 10, 2024 DATELINE: April 20, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:57 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Horgos Port in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 2. various of a China-Europe freight train 3. various of Horgos Port in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region STORYLINE: Total import and export value of goods in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region grew by 42.7 percent year on year to 93.63 billion yuan (about 13.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2024, the second highest growth rate among all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China, official data showed on Thursday. In March 2024 alone, Xinjiang's foreign trade value grew by 27.3 percent, registering growth for 29 consecutive months. From January to March, the region had conducted trade with 193 countries and regions across the globe. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

India's retail inflation eases to 4.85 pct in March

STORY: India's retail inflation eases to 4.85 pct in March SHOOTING TIME: April 10, 2024 DATELINE: April 13, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:20 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the India Gate 2. various of market area STORYLINE: India's retail inflation eased to 4.85 percent in March, the latest government data showed Friday. According to the data released by the federal Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, the inflation based on the consumer price index (CPI) in March stood at 4.85 percent, compared to 5.09 percent in February. Food inflation has also eased to 8.52 percent in March from 8.66 percent in February, the ministry's data showed. According to officials, the price data are collected from 1,114 selected urban markets and 1,181 villages covering all states through personal visits by field staff of the ministry's National Statistical Office. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Delhi. (XHTV)

Support rate for Japan's Kishida cabinet hits fresh low: poll

STORY: Support rate for Japan's Kishida cabinet hits fresh low: poll SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: April 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kishida cabinet and prime minister's office of Japan (source: Prime minister's office of Japan) 2. various of the prime minister's office STORYLINE: The support rate for the cabinet led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dropped to 16.6 pct in April, marking a new low for the administration, according to the latest Jiji Press opinion poll. The approval rate dropped by 1.4 percentage points from the previous month, a fresh low for the administration since its launch in October 2021, while the disapproval rate climbed 2.0 percentage points to 59.4 percent, the survey showed Thursday. The reading breached the previous low of 16.9 percent marked in February, sinking to the worst level since the return of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to power in December 2012, Jiji Press said. Punish

ADB forecasts 4.9 pct growth for developing Asia and Pacific in 2024, 2025

STORY: ADB forecasts 4.9 pct growth for developing Asia and Pacific in 2024, 2025 SHOOTING TIME: April 11, 2024 DATELINE: April 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:02 LOCATION: Manila CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Makati City 2. various of ADB headquarters 3. various of aerial footage of Manila STORYLINE: Asia and the Pacific's economy remains strong, with the growth rate in the region's developing economies projected at 4.9 percent in 2024 and 2025, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Thursday said in its latest outlook report. Despite uncertainties in the external environment, including escalating geopolitical tensions, the outlook "is broadly positive," said ADB in the annual flagship outlook report. The end of interest rate hiking cycles in most economies, as well as continued recovery in goods exports from an upturn in the semiconductor cycle, will support growth, ADB Chief Economist Albert Park said in the report. Stronger growth in South Asia and Southeast Asia will lead the region's perform

Chinese-made EVs to take 25 pct of EU market in 2024: study

STORY: Chinese-made EVs to take 25 pct of EU market in 2024: study SHOOTING TIME: April 11, 2024 / May 2023 DATELINE: April 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:56 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Chinese car brands at the Automobile Barcelona show (May 2023) 2. various of a Chinese car dealership 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): RAUL JARAMILLO, Brand and marketing manager for Kngloo Spain 4. various of the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels STORYLINE: Chinese-made electric cars will capture a quarter of the EU market in 2024, up from 19.5 percent in 2023, Europe's clean transport campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E) said in a recent study. T&E projects that Chinese brands could reach 11 percent of the EU's EV market in 2024 and 20 percent in 2027. Raul Jaramillo, brand and marketing manager for Kngloo Spain, said that to break into the European market, Chinese car brands need to quickly establish a wide network of distributors that "can provide the brand with high-q

U.S. CPI accelerates to 3.5 pct in March amid continued inflation pressure

STORY: U.S. CPI accelerates to 3.5 pct in March amid continued inflation pressure SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: April 11, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:18 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the U.S. Labor Department 2. various of a grocery store STORYLINE: U.S. consumer inflation in March sped up to 3.5 percent from a year ago, after ticking up to 3.2 percent in February, indicating continued inflation pressure, the U.S. Labor Department reported Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.4 percent in March on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in February. The index for shelter rose in March, as did the index for gasoline. Combined, these two indexes contributed over half of the monthly increase in the index for all items. The latest inflation report showed that the so-called core CPI, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.4 percent in March, as it did in January and February, after edging up 0.3 percent in December. Core CPI rose 3