U.S. retail sales rise 0.7 pct in July

STORY: U.S. retail sales rise 0.7 pct in July DATELINE: Aug. 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in the U.S. 2. various of convenience stores 3. various of a food truck STORYLINE: U.S. retail sales beat expectations in July, rising 0.7 percent from the previous month, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday. Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for July, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were 696.4 billion U.S. dollars, up 3.2 percent year over year. The figures were pushed up from June by a 1.9 percent increase in purchases at online retailers, as well as a 1.5 percent rise in sporting goods. July also saw a 1.4-percent rise in food services and places where people drink. But at the same time, sales in appliance and electronics stores dropped 1.3 percent. Furniture sales slipped 1.8 percent. Retail trade

Egypt sells state-owned companies worth 1.9 bln USD to private sector: PM

STORY: Egypt sells state-owned companies worth 1.9 bln USD to private sector: PM DATELINE: July 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:02 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the exterior of the Egyptian Cabinet 2. Egypt's PM Mostafa Madbouly speaking 3. various of the Egypt's Stock Exchange headquarters in Cairo STORYLINE: The Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Tuesday that the government has so far signed contracts worth 1.9 billion U.S. dollars with the private sector to sell stakes in state-owned companies. The government will soon announce another batch of deals worth 1 billion dollars, Madbouly said during a press conference in Egypt's New Administrative Capital just outside Cairo. The selling of the state-owned entities is part of an Egyptian program launched by the government in January. Madbouly said that most of the companies were sold to the private sector in a bid to boost the country's private sector. He added that the state would completely exit some sectors in favor of

People's Bank of China

People's Bank of China

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 13, 2023 - A citizen walks past the Hangzhou Central branch of the People's Bank of China in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, June 13, 2023. On the same day, the People's Bank of China issued an announcement that in order to maintain reasonable and abundant liquidity in the banking system, on June 13, 2 billion 7-day reverse repurchase operations were carried out by interest rate bidding, and the winning interest rate was 1.9%, down 10 basis points from the previous trading day, and the first reduction since mid-August 2022.

People's Bank of China

People's Bank of China

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 13, 2023 - Citizens walk past the Hangzhou Central branch of the People's Bank of China in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, June 13, 2023. On the same day, the People's Bank of China issued an announcement that in order to maintain reasonable and abundant liquidity in the banking system, on June 13, 2 billion 7-day reverse repurchase operations were carried out by interest rate bidding, and the winning interest rate was 1.9%, down 10 basis points from the previous trading day, and the first reduction since mid-August 2022.

People's Bank of China

People's Bank of China

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 13, 2023 - A citizen rides past the Hangzhou Central branch of the People's Bank of China on June 13, 2023. On the same day, the People's Bank of China issued an announcement that in order to maintain reasonable and abundant liquidity in the banking system, on June 13, 2 billion 7-day reverse repurchase operations were carried out by interest rate bidding, and the winning interest rate was 1.9%, down 10 basis points from the previous trading day, and the first reduction since mid-August 2022.

People's Bank of China

People's Bank of China

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 13, 2023 - Photo taken on June 13, 2023 shows the logo of the People's Bank of China in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province. On the same day, the People's Bank of China issued an announcement that in order to maintain reasonable and abundant liquidity in the banking system, on June 13, 2 billion 7-day reverse repurchase operations were carried out by interest rate bidding, and the winning interest rate was 1.9%, down 10 basis points from the previous trading day, and the first reduction since mid-August 2022.

Japan books 13.6 bln USD current account surplus in April

STORY: Japan books 13.6 bln USD current account surplus in April DATELINE: June 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:37 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of ports in Japan 2. various of city views in Japan STORYLINE: Japan logged a current account surplus of 1.9 trillion yen (13.6 billion U.S. dollars) in April, said a government report on Thursday. According to the Finance Ministry's preliminary information, the figure, in the black for the third consecutive month, was 76.3 percent higher than in the same period last year. According to the ministry, the country saw a goods trade deficit of 113.1 billion yen and a services trade deficit of 646.5 billion yen in the recording period. Imports decreased by 4.1 percent while exports expanded 2.6 percent year on year, the preliminary data showed. The report also said that the primary income, which reflects returns on overseas investments, booked a surplus of 3.07 trillion yen. (1 U.S. dollar equals 139.94 Japanese yen) Xinhua News Agency

Driving school ordered to pay damages over tsunami deaths

Driving school ordered to pay damages over tsunami deaths

SENDAI, Japan - One of the plaintiffs (2nd from L) who sought damages from a driving school over the deaths of 25 students and a part-time employee in the March 2011 disaster meets with reporters in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on Jan. 13, 2015. The Sendai District Court ordered the school to pay 1.9 billion yen to relatives of the victims, ruling it could have predicted the arrival of a tsunami after a massive earthquake hit.

Donors at Beijing bird flu funding conference pledge $1.9 bil.

Donors at Beijing bird flu funding conference pledge $1.9 bil.

BEIJING, China - The International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza ends a two-day meeting at a Beijing hotel on Jan. 18, with donor countries and international organizations pledging $1.9 billion in funds to combat bird flu and a potential bird flu pandemic.

Donors at Beijing bird flu funding conference pledge $1.9 bil.

Donors at Beijing bird flu funding conference pledge $1.9 bil.

BEIJING, China - The International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza ends a two-day meeting at a Beijing hotel on Jan. 18, with donor countries and international organizations pledging $1.9 billion in funds to combat bird flu and a potential bird flu pandemic. (Kyodo)

Tsunami-hit hospital rebuilt with Swiss funds makes fresh start

Tsunami-hit hospital rebuilt with Swiss funds makes fresh start

ONAGAWA, Japan - Photo taken on April 15, 2012, shows the Onagawa Community Medical Center in the town of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture, which was rebuilt with some 1.9 billion yen in donations from Switzerland after it was severely damaged by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. (Kyodo)

Driving school ordered to pay damages over tsunami deaths

Driving school ordered to pay damages over tsunami deaths

SENDAI, Japan - One of the plaintiffs (2nd from L) who sought damages from a driving school over the deaths of 25 students and a part-time employee in the March 2011 disaster meets with reporters in the northeastern Japan city of Sendai on Jan. 13, 2015. The Sendai District Court ordered the school to pay 1.9 billion yen to relatives of the victims, ruling it could have predicted the arrival of a tsunami after a massive earthquake hit. (Kyodo)