Valletta Pageant of the Seas highlights environmental threats

STORY: Valletta Pageant of the Seas highlights environmental threats SHOOTING TIME: June 22, 2024 DATELINE: June 23, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:37 LOCATION: Valletta CATEGORY: ENTERTAINMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Valletta Pageant of the Seas STORYLINE: The fifth edition of the Valletta Pageant of the Seas took place on Saturday night in Valletta Grand Harbour. This year's event, themed "Save the Sea," addressed environmental threats in the world's seas, focusing on plastic and microplastic pollution. The event featured around 80 traditional Maltese boats parading through the Grand Harbour, followed by a captivating light projection against the backdrop of Fort St. Angelo. The show continued with a mesmerizing water fountain display, culminating in a grand fireworks finale. The Valletta Pageant of the Seas was staged by the Valletta Cultural Agency, with the support of the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, and Visit Malta. Xinhua News correspondents reporting from Valletta. (XH

Egypt signs renewable energy agreements worth 40 bln USD

STORY: Egypt signs renewable energy agreements worth 40 bln USD SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 28, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 29, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:28 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the signing ceremony (courtesy of the Egyptian cabinet) STORYLINE: Egypt signed on Wednesday seven cooperation agreements with international developers in the fields of green hydrogen and renewable energy in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The total investments for these projects are expected to exceed 40 billion U.S. dollars over a span of 10 years, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Al-Saeed said that the pilot phase of the agreements involves investments of approximately 12 billion dollars, followed by an additional 29 billion dollars for the first phase. The Egyptian government has been working to transform the country into a regional center for the production and export of green energy. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo. (XH

Cyprus celebrates Limassol Wine Festival

STORY: Cyprus celebrates Limassol Wine Festival DATELINE: Oct. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:19 LOCATION: LIMASSOL, Cyprus CATEGORY: ECONOMY/CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. Various of people visiting the wine festival 2. Various of traditional sweets made of grapes 3. Various of grape stomping 3. Various of people visiting the festival and tasting wine STORYLINE: Cyprus's Limassol Wine Festival kicked off on Saturday in Limassol's Municipal Garden, attracting domestic and foreign wine lovers. The week-long festival is not only an event for tourists, but also an opportunity for local people to have a family outing at a very good price. The event has been held every year since 1961, except 2020 and 2021. Limassol is commonly recognized as the wine-making town of Cyprus. In October 1987, during the General Assembly of the International Office of the Vine and Wine, which took place at Marino in Italy, Limassol was declared as the "City of Vine and Wine." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Limassol, Cyprus. (XH

China-Mongolia cross-border financial cooperation forum held in Mongolia

STORY: China-Mongolia cross-border financial cooperation forum held in Mongolia DATELINE: June 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:48 LOCATION: Ulan Bator CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the forum STORYLINE: The China-Mongolia Cross-Border Financial Cooperation Forum was held in Ulan Bator on Thursday. The forum was co-organized by the Department of Commerce of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Bank of China Inner Mongolia Branch and Bank of China Ulan Bator Representative Office. More than 100 people, including representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia and the Bank of Mongolia attended the event. Focusing on the promotion of economic and trade development between China and Mongolia, the participants conducted in-depth exchanges on the policies and measures, the deepening of cooperation at the level of financial institutions, and the enhancement of mutual trust and cooperation between Chinese and Mongolian enterprises. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ulan Bator. (XH

Tunisia holds international film festival in Hammamet

STORY: Tunisia holds international film festival in Hammamet DATELINE: May 15, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:53 LOCATION: Tunis CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of film festival attendees 2. various of interviews of actors and directors 3. various of film festival awards scene STORYLINE: The 2nd Master International Film Festival Jasmine-Hammamet was held in Hammamet, a tourist resort in eastern Tunisia, from May 6 to 13. In order to encourage young filmmakers to innovate, this film festival allowed a group of one-minute micro-movies shot with mobile phones to participate in the exhibition. During the film festival, the organizers also held a series of seminars on topics such as digital storage of old films and how Tunisia can attract foreign films to be shot in the country. 2023 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Tunisian film art. This film festival also paid special tribute to a group of artists who have contributed to the country's films. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tunis. (XH

Forest ranger devotes 3 decades to protecting mountains and waters in NW China

STORY: Forest ranger devotes 3 decades to protecting mountains and waters in NW China DATELINE: Dec. 19, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: URUMQI, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of snowy mountains in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China 2. various of Tokay Kokan and his fellow forest rangers 3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): TOKAY KOKAN, Forest ranger STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE (Chinese): TOKAY KOKAN, Forest ranger "I am Tokay Kokan, and I've been working as a forest ranger for more than 30 years. Growing up in Koldeneng, I know the landform here very well. So I've been doing this job well. My family has been living here for generations. I love the mountains and the waters here, so I feel obliged to protect everything here. Now my son has entered college. I often take him to patrol the mountains with me and tell him about my experience in the past 30 years. I am about to retire and I hope someone can have my experience and replace me." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China. (XH

Trump Organization found guilty in tax fraud case

STORY: Trump Organization found guilty in tax fraud case DATELINE: Dec. 7, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:00 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Trump Tower in New York 2. various of Trump arriving at the White House (Archive footage) STORYLINE: A jury in New York City found on Tuesday former President Donald Trump's namesake real estate company guilty of criminal tax fraud. The jury found the two entities of the Trump Organization guilty as charged on all counts, including scheme to defraud, conspiracy, criminal tax fraud, and falsifying business records. Trump was not a defendant in the case that related to a scheme by his company to avoid taxes on compensation in the form of perks to its executives. The Trump Organization faces fines of up to 1.6 million U.S. dollars at sentencing. Trump, who launched a third bid for the White House last month, has criticized the case as politically motivated. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Washington D.C. (XH

Light show staged in 2,700-year-old Pingyao, China to attract tourists

STORY: Light show staged in 2,700-year-old Pingyao, China to attract tourists DATELINE: Sept. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: PINGYAO COUNTY, China CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the light show STORYLINE: A dazzling light show was held on Saturday in 2,700-year-old city of Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, to attract tourists amid the ongoing 22nd Pingyao International Photography Festival. Around 1,200 photographers from 28 countries and regions have been attracted to the festival in the UNESCO world cultural heritage site, known for its well-preserved ancient architecture. With three-dimensional stereo photoelectric technology, the 18-minute show featured regional history, culture, folk customs, accomplishments, and future perspectives in 8K-resolution images. In recent years, Pingyao has launched various cultural and creative programs and products, helicopter tours, and more to attract travelers. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Pingyao County, China. (XH

Sunflower oil rationed in many French supermarkets

STORY: Sunflower oil rationed in many French supermarkets DATELINE: April 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: MONTBRISON, France CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of shelves in French supermarkets 2. various of sunflower oil STORYLINE: Empty shelves and posters informing consumers that the purchase of oil is limited to a certain number of bottles, this is what the "Cooking oil" shelves of French supermarkets have looked like for the past few days. France, a country which imports two-thirds of its supplies from Ukraine, is anticipating supply problems due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. Millions of tonnes of sunflower oil destined for European buyers in Ukraine has been trapped, causing a major supply shock. French people have tended to stock up in recent weeks. As a result, the shelves of many supermarkets are empty. The shortage of sunflower oil has also pushed up the price of other vegetable oils around the world. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Montbrison, France. (XH