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Chinese firms showcase green solutions at Africa energy forum

STORY: Chinese firms showcase green solutions at Africa energy forum DATELINE: June 22, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:38 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the 25th Africa energy forum 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RYAN WANG, General Manager, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. in Africa 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): VICTOR KOYIER, Vice president at Huawei's Sub-Saharan Africa market STORYLINE: Chinese enterprises attending the 25th Africa energy forum in Kenya are eyeing the potentials of the renewable energy market in Africa. More than 3,000 delegates including officials, multilateral lenders and investors are attending the energy forum, held in Nairobi from Tuesday to Friday. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): RYAN WANG, General Manager, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. in Africa "African market for us, it's a potential market. Because of the demand here, everybody needs the power here. We are trying to provide our products to all project developers, IPPs, bankers, and commercial indus

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Silicon Valley Bank resumes operation

STORY: Silicon Valley Bank resumes operation DATELINE: March 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO, U.S. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people waiting outside SVB STORYLINE: The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the 16th largest bank in the United States, resumed operation on Monday. SVB's website has also been restored. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. California authorities closed SVB on Friday after the tech-focused lender reported huge losses from securities sales, sparking a run on the bank's deposits. The SVB collapse is the largest bank failure since the collapse of U.S. savings and loan association Washington Mutual in 2008. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from San Francisco, U.S. (XHTV)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SILICON VALLEY BANK

(230314) -- SANTA CLARA, March 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People queue up outside the headquarters of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in Santa Clara, California, the United States, March 13, 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Fed, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Sunday evening announced joint action to stabilize the U.S. banking system, in response to the collapse of two mid-sized lenders, California's Silicon Valley Bank and New York's Signature Bank. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party leave the floor of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009. They boycotted the vote at a plenary session on a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. The lower house passed the bill after the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners forced the vote.

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) looks sleepy during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009, before voting on a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. The lower house passed the bill after the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners forced the vote. The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party boycotted.

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners stand during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009, to pass a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. Meanwhile, seats of members of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party are seen vacant. The members of the opposition parties boycotted the vote by leaving the lower house floor.

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party leave the floor of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009. They boycotted the vote at a plenary session on a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. The lower house passed the bill after the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners forced the vote.

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DPJ steamrolls bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the House of Representatives Financial Affairs Committee hold a meeting while the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and a smaller opposition, the New Komeito party, boycotted the vote as well as the panel's hearing on Nov. 19, 2009. The committee passed a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments for small and midsize companies, making it the first piece of legislation to be steamrolled through the DPJ-controlled chamber.

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Tanigaki doubts Koizumi's plan to merge 8 gov't lenders into 1

TOKYO, Japan - Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki speaks in an interview with Kyodo News and other news organizations on Nov. 1. He expressed doubts about Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's plan to merge eight state-run financial institutions into one as part of his fiscal and financial structural reforms.

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(2)Daiei agrees to use IRCJ for rehabilitation

TOKYO, Japan - Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa speaks to reporters at the ministry after talks with Kunio Takagi, president of struggling retail giant Daiei Inc., on Oct. 13. Daiei is likely to apply to the state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan for support along with its lenders later in October.

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(1)Daiei agrees to use IRCJ for rehabilitation

Tokyo, Japan - Daiei Inc. President Kunio Takagi talks on his mobile phone in a car after meeting with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa on Oct. 13. The struggling retail giant is likely to apply to the state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan for support along with its lenders later in October.

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(2)Diet enacts bill to allow gov't to inject funds into lenders

TOKYO, Japan - Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka bows in a gesture of appreciation after the House of Representatives voted into law a bill to allow the government to inject public funds into financial institutions at a plenary session on June 14.

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(1)Diet enacts bill to allow gov't to inject funds into lenders

TOKYO, Japan - A House of Councillors plenary session votes a bill into law on June 14 to allow the government to inject public funds into financial institutions in a move to strengthen Japan's financial system.

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Financial Services Agency OKs Sumitomo-Sakura merger

TOKYO, Japan - Sumitomo Bank President Yoshifumi Nishikawa (R) and Sakura Bank President Akishige Okada meet the press at the Financial Services Agency in Tokyo Dec. 26 after the agency approved a merger of the two lenders. The major Japanese commercial banks plan to combine as the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. in April.

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Shohkoh Fund president testifies at Diet

TOKYO, Japan - Kenshin Oshima, president of Tokyo-based nonbank moneylender Shohkoh Fund and Co., testifies Dec. 14 before the House of Councillors Committee on Financial Affairs as a sworn witness. Oshima, 51, denied allegations that he instructed employees to use strong-arm tactics when collecting loans. Shohkoh Fund is one of the nation's largest ''shoko'' lenders, which specialize in high-interest, collateral-free loans to small firms.

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ASEAN finance ministers meet with IMF, international lenders

Finance Ministers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries meet with representatives from the IMF and other international lenders on March 20 in Hanoi to discuss how to restore growth in the Asian economies. ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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Malawian president lauds China for waiving African countries' interest-free loans

STORY: Malawian president lauds China for waiving African countries' interest-free loans DATELINE: Sept. 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: UN Headquarters CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. wide shot of Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera walking to rostrum 2. SOUNDBITE (English): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President 3. various of delegates STORYLINE: Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera praised China on Thursday for waiving interest-free loans for over a dozen African nations. The president made the remarks at the general debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. SOUNDBITE (English): LAZARUS CHAKWERA, Malawian President "Recently, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund called on the world's major lenders to show leadership by relieving vulnerable countries of the debts that are shackling them, because even loans that were given and received in good faith have become unsustainable in the recent and current climate of relentless and unforeseen external shocks. I join h

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China makes visible progress in relieving debt crisis in Africa: Ethiopian expert

STORY: China makes visible progress in relieving debt crisis in Africa: Ethiopian expert DATELINE: July 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:45 LOCATION: Addis Ababa CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of street view in Africavarious of infrastructure in AfricaSOUNDBITE (English): ADEM FETO, Researcher and lecturer at Arsi University in Ethiopia STORYLINE: An Ethiopian expert said that China has made real and visible progress in relieving the debt crisis for African countries, and that Western countries should do the same thing. The UK charity "Debt Justice" recently published a report, saying that African governments owe three times more debt to Western private lenders than to China, and are charged double the interest. SOUNDBITE (English): ADEM FETO, Researcher and lecturer at Arsi University in Ethiopia "Actually, if you look at the total loan, the total debt accumulation in Africa, the Chinese only take like 12 percent or 13 percent of the loan but the Western countries might have 35 percent - three times

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Xinhua Headlines: Studies show private Western lenders create most of African debt burden

(220720) -- NAIROBI, July 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Students watch satellite television via projector provided by Chinese media company StarTimes at a school on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal, Nov. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Yan)

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Xinhua Headlines: Studies show private Western lenders create most of African debt burden

(220720) -- NAIROBI, July 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Members of the cohort of independent Kenyan locomotive drivers work in Nairobi, Kenya, Feb. 19, 2022. (Xinhua)

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Xinhua Headlines: Studies show private Western lenders create most of African debt burden

(220720) -- NAIROBI, July 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 8, 2022 shows the Nairobi Expressway constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) in Nairobi, Kenya. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

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Xinhua Headlines: Studies show private Western lenders create most of African debt burden

(220720) -- NAIROBI, July 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on July 1, 2022 shows the berthing of the first ship at the Lekki Deep Sea Port under construction in Lagos, Nigeria. (CHEC/Handout via Xinhua)

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Xinhua Headlines: Studies show private Western lenders create most of African debt burden

(220720) -- NAIROBI, July 20, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A man sits outside the office building of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra, capital of Ghana, Aug. 17, 2020. (Ghana Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

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Private Western lenders to blame for African debt burden, urged to do more on relief

STORY: Private Western lenders to blame for African debt burden, urged to do more on relief DATELINE: July 20, 2022 LENGTH: 0:03:56 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Nigeria-based Center for China Studies 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BEATRICE MATIRI-MAISORI, Economics Senior Lecturer at Riara University based in Kenya 3. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): COSTANTINOS BT. COSTANTINOS, Professor of public policy at Addis Ababa University 4. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): BEATRICE MATIRI-MAISORI, Economics Senior Lecturer at Riara University based in Kenya 5. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Nigeria-based Center for China Studies 6. SOUNDBITE 6 (English): UHURU KENYATTA, Kenyan President 7. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): CHARLES ONUNAIJU, Director of Nigeria-based Center for China Studies 8. SOUNDBITE 8 (English): PETER KAGWANJA, CEO of Africa Policy Institute based in Kenya STORYLINE: According to a report released by UK-based charity Debt Ju

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GLOBALink | Private Western lenders to blame for African debt burden, urged to do more on relief

New studies by organizations and scholars have revealed that private Western creditors account for the lion's share of Africa's debt burden and due to this, engaging them in debt relief is critical. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service

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Greek households hit hard by price increases: survey

STORY: Greek households hit hard by price increases: survey DATELINE: March 25, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:51 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1 National flag of Greece 2 various of markets in Greece 3 SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): GEORGE KAVVATHAS, GSEVEE President 4 various of George Kavvathas at work 5 SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): GEORGE KAVVATHAS, GSEVEE President 6 various of views in Greece STORYLINE: The income of one in two households in Greece lasted until the 19th of each month on average in 2021, according to the results of a survey released recently in Athens. The survey was conducted last year by the Small Enterprises' Institute (IME) of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants (GSEVEE). One in two respondents to the survey expected their income to further shrink in 2022 due to rising inflation linked to skyrocketing energy costs, and to struggle to meet their obligations to the tax office, insurance funds and lenders. SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): GEORGE KAVVATHAS, GSEVEE Presid

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Japan PM Suga apologizes for plan to use lenders to enforce alcohol ban

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga meets the press at his office in Tokyo on July 14, 2021, apologizing for a controversial plan, retracted after a day, to have financial institutions help enforce a ban on eateries serving alcohol in the capital to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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Japan PM Suga apologizes for plan to use lenders to enforce alcohol ban

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga meets the press at his office in Tokyo on July 14, 2021, apologizing for a controversial plan, retracted after a day, to have financial institutions help enforce a ban on eateries serving alcohol in the capital to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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(2)Daiei agrees to use IRCJ for rehabilitation

TOKYO, Japan - Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa speaks to reporters at the ministry after talks with Kunio Takagi, president of struggling retail giant Daiei Inc., on Oct. 13. Daiei is likely to apply to the state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan for support along with its lenders later in October. (Kyodo)

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(1)Daiei agrees to use IRCJ for rehabilitation

Tokyo, Japan - Daiei Inc. President Kunio Takagi talks on his mobile phone in a car after meeting with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa on Oct. 13. The struggling retail giant is likely to apply to the state-backed Industrial Revitalization Corp. of Japan for support along with its lenders later in October. (Kyodo)

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China's central bank cuts reserve requirement for lenders

File photo taken in August 2015 shows 100 yuan bills and the People's Bank of China in Beijing. The Chinese central bank said Feb. 29, 2016, it will reduce the amount of cash lenders must hold as reserves in an attempt to make more money available in the financial system. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Greek capital sees anti-austerity demonstration

Greeks opposed to pension and tax reforms demanded by international lenders take part in an anti-austerity demonstration in Syntagma Square in central Athens on June 21, 2015, the day before an emergency meeting of eurozone leaders in Brussels on a bailout for Greece. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Greek capital sees anti-austerity demonstration

Greeks opposed to pension and tax reforms demanded by international lenders take part in an anti-austerity demonstration in Syntagma Square in central Athens on June 21, 2015, the day before an emergency meeting of eurozone leaders in Brussels on a bailout for Greece. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan's Norinchukin Bank, Holland's Rabobank ink alliance pact

Yoshio Kono (L), president of Norinchukin Bank, shakes hands with Berry Marttin, a member of the Rabobank Executive Board, in Tokyo on May 27, 2015, following their announcement of a business alliance between the Japanese and Dutch lenders. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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ADB meetings to discuss lending boost, cooperation with other bodies

Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao speaks at a press conference in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on May 2, 2015. The ADB's annual meeting began the same day to discuss ways to promote the region's growth including boosting the institution's financing capacity and enhancing cooperation with other multilateral lenders. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Tanigaki doubts Koizumi's plan to merge 8 gov't lenders into 1

TOKYO, Japan - Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki speaks in an interview with Kyodo News and other news organizations on Nov. 1. He expressed doubts about Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's plan to merge eight state-run financial institutions into one as part of his fiscal and financial structural reforms. (Kyodo)

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) looks sleepy during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009, before voting on a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. The lower house passed the bill after the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners forced the vote. The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party boycotted. (Kyodo)

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party leave the floor of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009. They boycotted the vote at a plenary session on a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. The lower house passed the bill after the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners forced the vote. (Kyodo)

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners stand during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009, to pass a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. Meanwhile, seats of members of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party are seen vacant. The members of the opposition parties boycotted the vote by leaving the lower house floor. (Kyodo)

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Lower house passes bill on easing repayment terms for firms

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and the smaller opposition New Komeito party leave the floor of the House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2009. They boycotted the vote at a plenary session on a bill to encourage lenders to freeze debt repayments by small and midsize companies. The lower house passed the bill after the Democratic Party of Japan and its ruling coalition partners forced the vote. (Kyodo)