COP28 president announces approval of proposal to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan

STORY: COP28 president announces approval of proposal to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan SHOOTING DATE: Dec. 11, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:19 LOCATION: Dubai CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of COP28 2. SOUNDBITE (English): SULTAN AHMED AL JABER, COP28 President STORYLINE: COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber announced on Monday the approval of a proposal to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan. The South Caucasus nation won the bid after winning backing from other Eastern European countries on Saturday. SOUNDBITE (English): SULTAN AHMED AL JABER, COP28 President "And hearing no objections, it is so decided." COP28, or the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is due to conclude on Tuesday, has gathered more than 110,000 registered participants in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in a bid to work out a global solution to the pressing climate crisis facing all countries. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin

Dead toll rises to 23 in volcanic eruption in Indonesia's Sumatra

STORY: Dead toll rises to 23 in volcanic eruption in Indonesia's Sumatra SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 5, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 6, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:12 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of people affected by volcanic eruption in Indonesia's Sumatra 2. various of rescue efforts for climbers STORYLINE: The number of climbers who died in the eruption of the Marapi volcano on Indonesia's Sumatra Island has reached 23, according to the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency on Tuesday. "Twenty bodies have been taken to hospital. Three others are in the process of being evacuated," said the agency's acting head Dian Indriati. Of the total 75 climbers, 52 survivors have been successfully evacuated. While some have already returned home, others, including 12 individuals who were seriously injured, are still undergoing medical treatment in hospitals. Four districts surrounding the 2,891-meter-high mountain have experienced volcanic ash rain. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin

Handmade carpet expo held in Iran

STORY: Handmade carpet expo held in Iran DATELINE: Aug. 26, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:05 LOCATION: Tehran CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the exhibition STORYLINE: The Iranian capital Tehran is hosting one of the world's most important handmade carpet exhibitions, featuring the country's best antique and contemporary handwoven carpets, according to Iran National Carpet Center (INCC). The expo, which opened at Tehran International Permanent Fairground on Wednesday, will last until Aug. 29, according to a statement published on the center's website. The opening ceremony was attended by INCC's President Mohammad-Mehdi Baradaran, who is also Iran's Deputy Industry, Mine, and Trade Minister. Over 450 Iranian companies involved in the production and exports of handwoven carpets have taken part in the exhibition and put on display a diverse collection of precious handwoven carpets made by the country's weavers and artists, according to Iran's IRIB news agency. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin

Malaysia's FDI up marginally in Q1

STORY: Malaysia's FDI up marginally in Q1 DATELINE: May 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. Various of Kuala Lumpur city views 2. Various of crowds at a shopping mall 3. Various of crowds on the street STORYLINE: Malaysia's foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 1.6 percent, reaching a record 893.2 billion ringgit (about 200.18 billion U.S. dollars) at the end of the first quarter of 2023, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, official data showed Friday. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement the manufacturing sector remained the largest recipient of the FDI with a value of 385.3 billion ringgit (about 86.35 billion U.S. dollars) or 43.1 percent of the total FDI. This was followed by financial activities and wholesale & retail trade. According to the DOSM, the country's FDI inflows were largely from Singapore, the United States and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin

Death toll from Russia's attack on Ukraine's Dnipro rises to 20: official

STORY: Death toll from Russia's attack on Ukraine's Dnipro rises to 20: official DATELINE: Jan. 15, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Kiev CATEGORY: MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the missile attack site STORYLINE: The death toll from a Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro has risen to 20, the regional governor said Sunday. At least 73 people were injured, with four in intensive care, Valentyn Reznichenko, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said on Telegram. About 40 people are still missing following the strike on Saturday that destroyed 72 apartments and damaged 230 others, Reznichenko said, noting the rescue operation at the site is still underway. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office, wrote on Telegram that 530 emergency workers and volunteers and 144 units of equipment are participating in the rescue operation. Russia has yet to respond or comment on the attack. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin

Water level of Danube River in Romania drops to multi-year lows

STORY: Water level of Danube River in Romania drops to multi-year lows DATELINE: Aug. 31, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Bucharest CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the dried-up Danube River bed 2. SOUNDBITE (Romanian): Local resident STORYLINE: Months of drought has led to dramatic reduction in the flow of the Danube, with water level in several sections dropping to multi-year lows. The Danube river is the second longest river in Europe. Near the southern Romania's town of Zimnicea, which is separated from Bulgaria by the river, the Romanian side of the Danube has completely dried up, while the Bulgarian side is barely passable. The exposed riverbed of the Danube has become a wide sandy beach, which has begun to attract local residents to pay a visit. SOUNDBITE (Romanian): Local resident "The drought this year is too severe and the river has receded to that part. This has never happened. This is the first time I've encountered since I was born." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin

Moscow mourns on Day of Remembrance and Sorrow

STORY: Moscow mourns on Day of Remembrance and Sorrow DATELINE: June 23, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the commemoration STORYLINE: Thousands of people gathered at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow as the country commemorates the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow at midnight of Tuesday. June 22nd this year marks the 81st anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. The all-Russian memorial campaign "Candle of Memory" began near the walls of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. The participants honored the memory of the victims with a minute of silence. Symbolizing the number of days the Soviet Union was at war, 1,418 candles were lit by representatives from all walks of life. 81 years ago, German forces launched Operation Barbarossa, sweeping through expansive areas of the Soviet territory almost to the point of taking Moscow. They were finally stopped, suffering defeats over the winter. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reportin