South Africa's GDP up 0.6 pct in 2023

STORY: South Africa's GDP up 0.6 pct in 2023 SHOOTING TIME: March 5, 2024 DATELINE: March 8, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:47 LOCATION: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of South Africa 2. various of Statistics South Africa STORYLINE: South Africa's economy remained muted, with its real gross domestic product (GDP) growing 0.6 percent in 2023 after expanding 1.9 percent in 2022, official data showed Tuesday. The finance, real estate and business services industry was the main star in 2023, growing 1.8 percent and contributing 0.4 percentage points to GDP growth, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). Personal services, transport, storage and communication, manufacturing, construction, and government services also helped keep the economy in positive territory, according to Stats SA. South Africa's construction sector saw its first positive year since 2016, expanding 0.6 percent, while both the mining and electricity, gas, and water sectors were down for a second ye

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.

SINGAPORE-GDP-GROWTH

SINGAPORE-GDP-GROWTH

(230714) -- SINGAPORE, July 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on July 14, 2023 shows the skyline of Singapore's financial district. The Singapore economy grew by 0.7 percent year on year in the second quarter, faster than the 0.4 percent growth recorded in the previous quarter, Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced on Friday. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE-GDP-GROWTH

SINGAPORE-GDP-GROWTH

(230714) -- SINGAPORE, July 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on July 14, 2023 shows the skyline of Singapore's financial district. The Singapore economy grew by 0.7 percent year on year in the second quarter, faster than the 0.4 percent growth recorded in the previous quarter, Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) announced on Friday. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Japan's industrial output rises 0.8 pct in March

STORY: Japan's industrial output rises 0.8 pct in March DATELINE: April 28, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:42 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of ports and industrial manufacturing in Japan STORYLINE: Japan's industrial output rose from a month earlier in March, marking the second straight month of increase, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a report on Friday. According to the ministry, industrial output in March rose 0.8 percent from the previous month, with the seasonally adjusted index of output at factories and mines standing at 95.7 against the base of 100 for 2015. The figure for March follows an upwardly revised 4.6 percent increase logged in February, the ministry's data showed. The ministry's data set also showed the index of industrial shipments were up 0.4 percent to 93.1, while inventories gained 0.6 percent to 104.1 in the recording period. Industrial output fell 0.2 percent from the previous year in fiscal 2022 ended March, the ministry also said. The minis

Vietnam's GDP growth slows as global demand weighs on exports

STORY: Vietnam's GDP growth slows as global demand weighs on exports DATELINE: March 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:45 LOCATION: Hanoi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various scenes of the container terminal in Vietnam 2. various scenes of the industrial zones 3. various scenes of business banking 4. various scenes of supermarket 5. various scenes of wind farms STORYLINE: Vietnam's economy in the first quarter grew at the second lowest rate in the past 12 years as weakening global demand weighed on exports, official data showed on Wednesday. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), the growth of gross domestic product was 3.32 percent in the January-March period, down from 5.92 percent in the fourth quarter and 5.03 percent in the first quarter last year. The GSO said that processing and manufacturing, with a 35.47-percent weight of the basket, dipped 0.4 percent from a year earlier, while services, the largest category, rose 6.79 percent and agriculture gained 2.52 percent. Besides, the data showed tha

Japan's economy shrinks annualized real 0.4% in July-Sept. qtr

Japan's economy shrinks annualized real 0.4% in July-Sept. qtr

TOKYO, Japan - Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 17 after the Cabinet Office announced that Japan's economy shrank an annualized 0.4 percent in real terms in the July-September quarter, for the second straight quarter of contraction.

Hjelmeset pips countryman Estil to gold in 50-km classical

Hjelmeset pips countryman Estil to gold in 50-km classical

SAPPORO, Japan - Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (R) edges out Frode Estil in leading a 1-2 finish for Norway in the men's 50-kilometer cross country classical in the final event at the Nordic world ski championships in Sapporo on March 4. Hjelmeset clocked 2 hours, 20 minutes, 12.6 seconds on the Shirahatayama course, 0.4 second ahead of Estil.

Pechstein powers to Olympic gold medal

Pechstein powers to Olympic gold medal

Germany's Claudia Pechstein displays total concentration as she breaks the world 5,000-meter speed skating world record Feb. 20 at Nagano's M-Wave indoor track. Pechstein repeated as the Olympic 5,000 meters queen, squeezing out compatriot Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann by 0.4 second. Kazakstan's Lyudmila Prokasheva took bronze.

Thai central bank governor upbeat about China's growth outlook

STORY: Thai central bank governor upbeat about China's growth outlook DATELINE: July 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:40 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SETHAPUT SUTHIWARTNARUEPUT, Thailand's central bank governor 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SETHAPUT SUTHIWARTNARUEPUT, Thailand's central bank governor 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SETHAPUT SUTHIWARTNARUEPUT, Thailand's central bank governor 4. outside of Bank of Thailand STORYLINE: Thailand's central bank governor says the longer-term picture of the Chinese economy, which is "hugely important" for Thailand and the region, remains quite positive despite a slowdown driven by short-term factors. The Chinese economy expanded 2.5 percent in the first half of this year, and grew 0.4 percent year on year in the second quarter. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SETHAPUT SUTHIWARTNARUEPUT, Thailand's central bank governor "There's ample room for improved growth in China, especially since if we look overall in China, I think the Chinese economy there

China's GDP expands 2.5 pct in H1

STORY: China's GDP expands 2.5 pct in H1 DATELINE: July 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:39 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FU LINGHUI, Spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) STORYLINE: Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Friday that China's economy grew by 2.5 percent in the first half of the year. The growth was achieved after the country's GDP grew 0.4 percent year on year in the second quarter amid the COVID-19 resurgence. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): FU LINGHUI, Spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) "To summarize, a series of policies to stabilize the economy have achieved remarkable results. China's economy has overcome unexpected factors and shown a trend of stabilization and recovery, especially in the second quarter, which achieved positive growth and stabilized the economy. The economic growth didn't come by easily." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing. (XHTV)

Land prices continue to fall in Japan amid pandemic

The average price of land in Japan as of July 1 fell 0.4 percent from the previous year for the second consecutive year of declines amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Tuesday. But the margin of decline narrowed from 0.6 percent last year, with demand for residential land slightly improving.

Japan's economy shrinks annualized real 0.4% in July-Sept. qtr

Japan's economy shrinks annualized real 0.4% in July-Sept. qtr

TOKYO, Japan - Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 17 after the Cabinet Office announced that Japan's economy shrank an annualized 0.4 percent in real terms in the July-September quarter, for the second straight quarter of contraction. (Kyodo)

Hjelmeset pips countryman Estil to gold in 50-km classical

Hjelmeset pips countryman Estil to gold in 50-km classical

SAPPORO, Japan - Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (R) edges out Frode Estil in leading a 1-2 finish for Norway in the men's 50-kilometer cross country classical in the final event at the Nordic world ski championships in Sapporo on March 4. Hjelmeset clocked 2 hours, 20 minutes, 12.6 seconds on the Shirahatayama course, 0.4 second ahead of Estil. (Kyodo)