August 1 Aerobatic Team celebrates opening of 15th Airshow China with stunning performances

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's August 1st aerobatics team celebrated the opening of the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, on Tuesday with stunning performances.

A total of six fighter jets participated in the performances. The jets maintained delicate formations while performing different flight maneuvers, demonstrating the high proficiency of the pilots' flying skills.

Initially founded in 1962, the August 1 Aerobatic Team was renamed 25 years later after the PLA's founding date, which falls on August 1.

This is the first time that the August 1 Aerobatic Team has participated in the airshow after it adopted the J-10C, a supersonic, multipurpose fighter jet independently developed by China.

The team has adopted six aircraft types successively. Since 2009, all the aircraft used are domestically produced.

Airshow China takes place from Nov 12 to 17, attracting 1,022 companies from 47 countries and regions. Russia, France, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Italy are participating in the biennial aerospace trade show in groups.

As an export-oriented international event, the air show offers a rare venue to observe China's military aircraft up close, especially the newest models.

August 1 Aerobatic Team celebrates opening of 15th Airshow China with stunning performances

August 1 Aerobatic Team celebrates opening of 15th Airshow China with stunning performances

August 1 Aerobatic Team celebrates opening of 15th Airshow China with stunning performances

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO