Lebanon: Israel Carries Out Airstrikes Near Sidon

Israel carried out 2 airstrikes targeting alleged Hezbollah weapons warehouse locations near Sidon on Monday, February 19. Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that "Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on the town of Ghaziyeh". The Israeli army said that the attack was in "response to to the explosion of an enemy drone, the wreckage of which was found near the Tiberias area this afternoon." This live footage shows smoke billowing as seen from Sidon.

Presidential election votings start in Finland

STORY: Presidential election votings start in Finland SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 28, 2024/earlier footage DATELINE: Jan. 28, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:33 LOCATION: Helsinki CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of a polling station 2. various of posters of candidates (earlier footage) STORYLINE: Finland's presidential election kicked off on Sunday as polling stations opened at 9 a.m. local time (0700 GMT). Finns are going to cast their votes until 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) to elect a president for a six-year term. Nine candidates are contesting to be the successor to the incumbent, Sauli Niinisto. After two terms in the presidency, he is not running. According to Finland's constitution, the president can be elected to only two consecutive terms. If none of the candidates receives more than half of the votes in the first round, a second round will be held between the top two runners on Feb. 11. The presidential candidate of the National Coalition, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, and independent Green candidate, forme

Technical recession in Eurozone "not something to worry about": Spanish economist

STORY: Technical recession in Eurozone "not something to worry about": Spanish economist DATELINE: June 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sergi Basco, an associate professor of economics at Barcelona University 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): SERGI BASCO, Associate professor of economics at Barcelona University STORYLINE: The report by Eurostat last week that the Eurozone entered a technical recession at the start of 2023 after the economy shrank by 0.1 percent for a second consecutive quarter is "not something we have to worry about," Sergi Basco, an associate professor of economics at Barcelona University, told Xinhua in an interview on Friday. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): SERGI BASCO, Associate professor of economics at Barcelona University "The fall in GDP is what the European Central Bank (ECB) wants and it's not something we have to worry about. This is what always happens: when interest rates are high, the economy slows, and that's where we are right now. There

New Zealand GDP falls 0.1 pct in Q1 as recession starts

STORY: New Zealand GDP falls 0.1 pct in Q1 as recession starts DATELINE: June 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: AUCKLAND, New Zealand CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Auckland and harbor 2. various of Auckland's largest container terminal 3. various of Auckland's commercial streets at night STORYLINE: The New Zealand economy has signaled a recession as the gross domestic product (GDP) fell for the second quarter, according to quarterly figures released by the statistics department Stats NZ on Thursday. The GDP fell 0.1 percent in the March 2023 quarter, following a 0.7 percent fall in the December 2022 quarter, Stats NZ said. The second consecutive quarter of negative economic growth signals the start of an economic recession. "Today's outcome fits the definition of a technical recession by the barest of margins," Finance Minister Grant Robertson said, adding the economy was affected by the second-largest natural disaster to hit New Zealand in the first quarter. This result reflects the impa

Japan's child population down for 42nd straight year to new low

STORY: Japan's child population down for 42nd straight year to new low DATELINE: May 5, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:52 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of children in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's estimated population of children fell to a new record low of 14.35 million, down for the 42nd consecutive year, latest government data showed. The number of children aged 14 or younger, including foreigners, came to 14.35 million as of April 1, down by around 300,000 from a year earlier, data from the internal affairs ministry showed on Thursday. The ratio of children to Japan's total population stood at 11.5 percent, down by 0.2 percentage point, also the lowest figure since the start of comparable data in 1950, according to the ministry. By gender, boys accounted for 7.35 million of the total child population, while girls make up the other 7 million, the data showed. The government data also revealed that after peaking in 1954 at 29.89 million and experiencing a second baby boom in the e

Oda takes lead after short program at Cup of China

Oda takes lead after short program at Cup of China

BEIJING, China - Japan's Nobunari Oda performs at the Cup of China, the third event of the Grand Prix series, in Beijing on Oct. 30, 2009. Oda, who won the season-opening Trophee Bombard in Paris earlier this month, got off to a flying start in his bid for a second consecutive title after grabbing the lead in the men's short program with 83.5 points.

Matsuzaka takes loss without run support

Matsuzaka takes loss without run support

OAKLAND, United States - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan pitches against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California, on June 5. Matsuzaka (7-4) lost his second consecutive start after giving up two runs and seven hits over seven innings in a 130-pitch outing.

Matsuzaka takes loss without run support

Matsuzaka takes loss without run support

OAKLAND, United States - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan pitches against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California, on June 5. Matsuzaka (7-4) lost his second consecutive start after giving up two runs and seven hits over seven innings in a 130-pitch outing. (Kyodo)

Oda takes lead after short program at Cup of China

Oda takes lead after short program at Cup of China

BEIJING, China - Japan's Nobunari Oda performs at the Cup of China, the third event of the Grand Prix series, in Beijing on Oct. 30, 2009. Oda, who won the season-opening Trophee Bombard in Paris earlier this month, got off to a flying start in his bid for a second consecutive title after grabbing the lead in the men's short program with 83.5 points. (Kyodo)