UK economy grows 0.1 pct in Q1

STORY: UK economy grows 0.1 pct in Q1 DATELINE: May 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:33 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of England 2. various of streets in London 3. various of a supermarket in London STORYLINE: The United Kingdom's (UK) economy grew by 0.1 percent in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, official figures showed on Friday. In output terms, the services sector grew by 0.1 percent between January and March, driven by increases in information and communication, and administrative and support service activities, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. The construction sector grew by 0.7 percent, the production sector by 0.1 percent, and manufacturing by 0.5 percent. Despite the expansion, the country's quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) is still 0.5 percent below its pre-COVID-19 level (fourth quarter of 2019). The UK remains the only G7 (Group of Seven) country in which the main quarterly measure of GDP has not recovered to its pre-pandemic peak yet, Samuel

India's top court terms women wrestlers' sexual allegations serious, issues notices

STORY: India's top court terms women wrestlers' sexual allegations serious, issues notices DATELINE: April 26, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:25 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of the protest STORYLINE: India's Supreme Court Tuesday described allegations of sexual harassment leveled by women wrestlers against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh as "serious" and issued notices to police to explain why they had not registered a first information report (FIR) in the case. "There are serious allegations made in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India in international games about sexual harassment meted out to them. The matter requires consideration by this court," the top court said. Seven female wrestlers had approached the apex court alleging police had not registered a FIR on their sexual harassment charge against the WFI president. India's top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia

Ex-LDP lawmaker Koichi Hamada dies

Ex-LDP lawmaker Koichi Hamada dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows House of Representatives lawmaker Koichi Hamada dismantling a barricade at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo in November 1979 during an internal party conflict. Hamada, who served seven terms as an LDP legislator and was known as an outspoken member of parliament, died of heart failure on Aug. 5, 2012, at his home. He was 83.

Ex-LDP lawmaker Koichi Hamada dies

Ex-LDP lawmaker Koichi Hamada dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in 2001 shows Koichi Hamada, former House of Representatives lawmaker. Hamada, who served seven terms as a Liberal Democratic Party legislator and was known as an outspoken member of parliament, died of heart failure on Aug. 5, 2012, at his home. He was 83.

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

TOKYO, Japan - Seven & I Holdings Co. President Toshifumi Suzuki (R) and Millennium Retailing Inc. President Shigeaki Wada announce an agreement on a business tie-up at a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 26. Seven & I Holdings will purchase a 65.45 percent equity stake in Millennium Retailing at the end of January 2006 and acquire the remaining shares by June that year in a move that will create Japan's largest and the world's fifth-largest retailer in terms of sales.

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

TOKYO, Japan - Seven & I Holdings Co. President Toshifumi Suzuki (R) and Millennium Retailing Inc. President Shigeaki Wada pose for photos after announcing a business tie-up deal at a press conference4 in Tokyo on Dec. 26. The deal will create Japan's largest and the world's fifth-largest retailer in terms of sales.

China's "Snow Town" welcomes first snow of the season

STORY: China's "Snow Town" welcomes first snow of the season DATELINE: Oct. 23, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:40 LOCATION: HARBIN, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the first snow of the season in China's "Snow Town" STORYLINE: Shuangfeng Forest Farm in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, known as China's "Snow Town," saw its first snow of the season on Sunday. Sunday also marked Shuangjiang, one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar. It means frost begins to descend. Snow season here lasts for about seven months a year. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harbin, China. (XHTV)

China's self-developed hydraulic modules to promote hybrid vehicle development

STORY: China's self-developed hydraulic modules to promote hybrid vehicle development DATELINE: May 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:10 LOCATION: CHONGQING, China CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: various of the production linesSOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU YONG, Chief expert of Chongqing Tsingshan Industrial Co., Ltd.various of the engineers workingSOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHOU YONG, Chief expert of Chongqing Tsingshan Industrial Co., Ltd. STORYLINE: A Chinese research team has developed home-grown seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) hydraulic modules, making a breakthrough in the production of the powertrain system of automobiles. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHOU YONG, Chief expert of Chongqing Tsingshan Industrial Co., Ltd. "Last year, we sold more than 300,000 such hydraulic modules. Compared with the technologies of other competitors, our product is more technologically advanced. Second, in terms of the cost, we've tried everything possible to reduce the cost to make the product cost-effective for our customer

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

TOKYO, Japan - Seven & I Holdings Co. President Toshifumi Suzuki (R) and Millennium Retailing Inc. President Shigeaki Wada pose for photos after announcing a business tie-up deal at a press conference4 in Tokyo on Dec. 26. The deal will create Japan's largest and the world's fifth-largest retailer in terms of sales. (Kyodo)

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

Seven & I to take over Millennium Retailing completely by June

TOKYO, Japan - Seven & I Holdings Co. President Toshifumi Suzuki (R) and Millennium Retailing Inc. President Shigeaki Wada announce an agreement on a business tie-up at a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 26. Seven & I Holdings will purchase a 65.45 percent equity stake in Millennium Retailing at the end of January 2006 and acquire the remaining shares by June that year in a move that will create Japan's largest and the world's fifth-largest retailer in terms of sales. (Kyodo)