NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum signing ceremony - 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague

NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum signing ceremony - 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague

Handout photo - Allies sign a number of new multinational projects and expanding existing ones. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and the United Kingdom committed to the joint acquisition, storage, transportation and management of stockpiles of defence critical raw materials, including throughrecycling existing products, during the opening of the NATO Public Forum - 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24, 2025. Photo by NATO via ABACAPRESS.COM

NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum signing ceremony - 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague

NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum signing ceremony - 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague

Handout photo - Allies sign a number of new multinational projects and expanding existing ones. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and the United Kingdom committed to the joint acquisition, storage, transportation and management of stockpiles of defence critical raw materials, including throughrecycling existing products, during the opening of the NATO Public Forum - 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 24, 2025. Photo by NATO via ABACAPRESS.COM

Convenience store selling government reserve rice

Convenience store selling government reserve rice

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (L) talks with FamilyMart Co. President Kensuke Hosomi during a visit to a store in Tokyo's Minato Ward on June 5, 2025, as the convenience store chain begins selling reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers in Tokyo and Osaka. (Pool photo)

Convenience store selling government reserve rice

Convenience store selling government reserve rice

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (R) talks with FamilyMart Co. President Kensuke Hosomi during a visit to a store in Tokyo's Minato Ward on June 5, 2025, as the convenience store chain begins selling reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers in Tokyo and Osaka. (Pool photo)

[Breaking News]Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

OSAKA, Japan, June 2 Kyodo - Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Aeon supermarket in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 2, 2025. (Kyodo)

Reserve rice hits store shelves

SENDAI, Japan, June 2 Kyodo - Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at a supermarket in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on May 31, 2025. (Kyodo)

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Aeon supermarket in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 2, 2025.

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Reserve rice hits store shelves

A rice section at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo is empty on May 31, 2025, as reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers is sold out about 30 minutes after hitting the shelves.

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Reserve rice hits store shelves

A rice section at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo is empty on May 31, 2025, as reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers is sold out about 30 minutes after hitting the shelves.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Aeon supermarket in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 2, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Aeon supermarket in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 2, 2025.

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Shoppers buy reserve rice, released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers, at a supermarket in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Aeon supermarket in the western Japan city of Osaka on June 2, 2025.

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at a supermarket in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at a supermarket in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Reserve rice hits store shelves

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at a supermarket in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo on May 31, 2025.

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Reserve rice released from government stockpiles

Bags of reserve rice released from government stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers hit the shelves at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Tokyo on May 31, 2025.

Lower-priced reserve rice released

WATARI, Japan, May 29 Kyodo - Rice stockpiles are delivered to household equipment maker Iris Ohyama Inc.'s rice polishing plant in Watari in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 29, 2025. The Japanese government launched a new scheme to release lower-priced reserve rice harvested in 2021 and 2022 via direct contracts with retailers -- not by the previous auction-based method -- to curb elevated rice prices. (Kyodo)

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks during an event to taste the government's rice stockpiles at the ministry in Tokyo on May 29, 2025.

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks during an event to taste the government's rice stockpiles at the ministry in Tokyo on May 29, 2025.

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi eats a rice ball during an event to taste the government's rice stockpiles at the ministry in Tokyo on May 29, 2025.

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi eats a rice ball during an event to taste the government's rice stockpiles at the ministry in Tokyo on May 29, 2025.

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japan farm minister Koizumi

Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi eats a rice ball during an event to taste the government's rice stockpiles at the ministry in Tokyo on May 29, 2025.

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Rice stockpiles are delivered to household equipment maker Iris Ohyama Inc.'s rice polishing plant in Watari in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 29, 2025. The Japanese government launched a new scheme to release lower-priced reserve rice harvested in 2021 and 2022 via direct contracts with retailers -- not by the previous auction-based method -- to curb elevated rice prices.

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Rice stockpiles are delivered to household equipment maker Iris Ohyama Inc.'s rice polishing plant in Watari in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 29, 2025. The Japanese government launched a new scheme to release lower-priced reserve rice harvested in 2021 and 2022 via direct contracts with retailers -- not by the previous auction-based method -- to curb elevated rice prices.

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Rice stockpiles are delivered to household equipment maker Iris Ohyama Inc.'s rice polishing plant in Watari in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 29, 2025. The Japanese government launched a new scheme to release lower-priced reserve rice harvested in 2021 and 2022 via direct contracts with retailers -- not by the previous auction-based method -- to curb elevated rice prices.

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Lower-priced reserve rice released

Rice stockpiles are delivered to household equipment maker Iris Ohyama Inc.'s rice polishing plant in Watari in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on May 29, 2025. The Japanese government launched a new scheme to release lower-priced reserve rice harvested in 2021 and 2022 via direct contracts with retailers -- not by the previous auction-based method -- to curb elevated rice prices.

Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

TOKYO, Japan, May 26 Kyodo - Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi holds a press conference at his ministry on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June. (Kyodo)

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to ministry officials on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to ministry officials on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi holds a press conference at his ministry on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to ministry officials on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi holds a press conference at his ministry on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

CORRECTED: Japan's new farm minister Koizumi

Japan's new Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to ministry officials on May 26, 2025, as Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts, aiming to slash soaring prices after he pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.

UN marks Int'l Day Against Nuclear Tests

STORY: UN marks Int'l Day Against Nuclear Tests DATELINE: Aug. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. wide shot of UNGA Hall 2. wide shot of President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly Csaba Korosi walking up to rostrum 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CSABA KOROSI, President of 77th Session of UN General Assembly 4. wide shot of UNGA Hall 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CSABA KOROSI, President of 77th Session of UN General Assembly 6. wide shot of UNGA Hall STORYLINE: The UN General Assembly on Tuesday held a high-level plenary meeting to mark the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi, who chaired the meeting, warned of "a global catastrophe" brought by nuclear weapons. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CSABA KOROSI, President of 77th Session of UN General Assembly "We see many signs that nuclear stockpiles and capabilities are growing, contravening the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons). We are closer

U.S. gas prices hit 10-month highs amid tighter supplies, heatwaves

STORY: U.S. gas prices hit 10-month highs amid tighter supplies, heatwaves DATELINE: Aug. 19, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:44 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a gas station in Arlington, the U.S. state of Virginia STORYLINE: U.S. gas prices surged to an average of 3.87 U.S. dollars a gallon nationally on Thursday, the highest level in 10 months, data showed. That's 31 cents higher than a month ago, but still below the record high of 5.02 dollars in June 2022, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). California has been on the top of the 10 most expensive markets across the country, with an average of 5.18 dollars a gallon, followed by Washington, Hawaii, Oregon and Alaska. The summertime gas price spike has been driven by lower gasoline stockpiles and a series of refinery outages caused by extreme heat. Goldman Sachs estimated that record heat levels in Texas have likely led to a sharp 2 percent slump in U.S. refiners' product yields over the past few weeks. AAA

Indonesia to import 2 mln tons of rice against impending drought

STORY: Indonesia to import 2 mln tons of rice against impending drought DATELINE: April 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:39 LOCATION: Jakarta CATEGORY: AGRICULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Indonesian President Joko Widodo planting rice with locals in East Java Province (courtesy of BPMI) 2. various of Indonesian President Joko Widodo inspecting rice stocks at Beran Market, Ngawi, East Java Province (courtesy of BPMI) STORYLINE: Indonesia will import 2 million tons of rice by the end of this year to deal with the impending drought caused by El Nino, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday. Rice imports aim to keep the State Logistics Agency's stockpiles and stabilize domestic prices because El Nino will cause a protracted drought and affect the country's rice production, Widodo said after planting rice in East Java Province. Head of the National Food Agency, Arief Prasetyo, said the first batch of rice imports will be up to 500,000 tons and be sent as soon as feasible. The harvest of rice from March to May

Vietnam's coffee exports slow in Q1 as domestic prices rise

STORY: Vietnam's coffee exports slow in Q1 as domestic prices rise DATELINE: April 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: Hanoi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of coffee harvesting in Vietnam 2. various of roasting and packaging process of coffee beans in Vietnam 3. various of the coffee festival in the central highlands Dak Lak province STORYLINE: Vietnam's coffee exports in the first quarter this year edged down 1.6 percent to 572,000 tons from a year ago, the General Statistics Office has said, adding that coffee export revenue for the same period reached 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, down 2.3 percent on the year. Vietnamese coffee prices surging this year, coupled with rising interest rates on bank loans, have made exporters refrain from building their stockpiles and reluctant to have contracts for delivery in the future on concerns about global price volatility, said Nguyen Xuan Hien, head of staff of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association (Vicofa). Also, Vietnamese farmers are in no rush to sell their

Ugandan youth recycles used tires for environment protection, poverty fight

STORY: Ugandan youth recycles used tires for environment protection, poverty fight DATELINE: April 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:06:38 LOCATION: Kampala CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of stockpiles of tires various of Eric preparing material for carpetsvarious of Eric rolling finished carpetsSOUNDBITE 1 (ENGLISH): ERIC RUGOMOKA, Artisanvarious of Eric making carpets using shredded car tiresSOUNDBITE 2 (ENGLISH): ERIC RUGOMOKA, Artisanvarious of NEMA buildingvarious of Naomi in her officervarious of Artisans making productsSOUNDBITE 3 (ENGLISH): NAOMI KAREKAHO, Communications Officer, NEMAvarious of Cars on rad and old tiresSOUNDBITE 4 (ENGLISH): NAOMI KAREKAHO, Communications Officer, NEMAvarious of old tires holding waterSOUNDBITE 5 (ENGLISH): ERIC RUGOMOKA, Artisanvarious of man delivering old tires at Eric's workshopSOUNDBITE 6 (ENGLISH): NAOMI KAREKAHO, Communications Officer, NEMAvarious of Eric with carpet made from old tires STORYLINE: Stockpiles of old, discarded tires are becoming a common sight in t