Japan logs trade deficit of 38 bln USD in fiscal 2023

STORY: Japan logs trade deficit of 38 bln USD in fiscal 2023 SHOOTING TIME: file DATELINE: April 17, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:55 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's trade deficit in fiscal 2023 shrank around 70 percent from a year earlier to 5.89 trillion yen (about 38 billion U.S. dollars), government data showed Wednesday. In the fiscal year ended March, exports expanded 3.7 percent to 102.90 trillion yen, topping 100 trillion yen for the first time and marking a record high for the third straight year, according to a preliminary Finance Ministry report. Automobile exports, which account for about 17 percent of Japan's total, grew 30.2 percent to 17.88 trillion yen, eclipsing the previous record of 14.67 trillion yen in fiscal 2007. In contrast, imports dived 10.3 percent to 108.79 trillion yen, falling for the first time in three years, chiefly reflecting falls in imports of coal and liquefied natural gas. With a weaker yen inflati

Italian PM reaffirms commitment to EU recovery plan

STORY: Italian PM reaffirms commitment to EU recovery plan DATELINE: Jan. 10, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen at Palazzo Chigi STORYLINE: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed the challenges of economic growth and European migration policy in Rome on Monday. Meloni reaffirmed Italy's commitment to the European Union's (EU) National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPRR), which provides Italy with around 200 billion euros (215 billion U.S. dollars) in grants and low-interest loans as long as the country follows through with a series of reforms to make its economy stronger and more sustainable. Von der Leyen is holding a series of bilateral discussions with EU leaders ahead of the Feb. 9-10 meeting of the European Council, scheduled specifically to discuss European economic growth and migration. It comes as the bloc faces challenges ranging from high inflati