Italy's major banks report record profits in 2023

STORY: Italy's major banks report record profits in 2023 SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 7, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 8, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:39 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Italy STORYLINE: Italy's two major banks have reported record profits in 2023, signaling the recovery of the country's banking sector from recent difficulties. On Tuesday, Banca Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's largest bank by total assets, reported a net profit of 7.7 billion euros (8.3 billion U.S. dollars) for 2023, a year-on-year increase of 76.4 percent. A day earlier, Unicredit revealed a record net profit of 8.6 billion euros for last year, 51 percent higher than in 2022. Both exceeded market expectations. The two banks rank among the world's 50 largest banks, according to Standard & Poor's ratings. Over the past three years, Italy's banking sector faced multiple challenges due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis stemming from the Ukraine crisis. Additionally, four months ago, the Italian p

Afghan boxers voice expectations for Hangzhou Asian Games

STORY: Afghan boxers voice expectations for Hangzhou Asian Games DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:29 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kabul-based training hall 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): MOJTABA HEYDARI, Boxer 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Dari): MOHAMMAD IDRIS JAFARI, Afghan boxer 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): MOHAMMAD MAAROUF RAGHABAT, Head of Afghan national boxing team STORYLINE: Afghan boxers at a Kabul-based training hall have recently shared their expectations for the upcoming Asian Games in China's Hangzhou. SOUNDBITE 1 (Dari): MOJTABA HEYDARI, Boxer "I want to take part in Asian Games and world competitions in the future, raising the Afghan flag on the field. Because it is a great honor for a boxer to win a medal, especially a gold medal. Special thanks should be given to China for organizing such a competition and giving us the chance to go there to win medals." For those who are making last push ahead of the Asian Games, they said they are setting their sights on both medals and personal

Ex-S. Korean premier mixed about Japan-N. Korea summit

Ex-S. Korean premier mixed about Japan-N. Korea summit

TOKYO, Japan - Former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil addresses a joint meeting between Japanese and South Korean lawmakers in Tokyo on Sept. 7. Kim expressed mixed feelings about an upcoming summit between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on Sept. 17, saying ''I have both expectations and concerns (about the summit).''