July 29, Friday, 2022 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline read by Mr. Yamaguchi Hiroaki

1.US Commerce Department officials reported on Thursday that the economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter. They report output from April through June fell at an annualized pace of 0.9 percent. Gross domestic product is the broadest measure of the nation’s production of goods and services. GDP in the first quarter had dropped 1.6 percent. The second quarter decline brought the economy in line with a common definition of recession.
2.The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed 36,814 new cases of coronavirus infections on Friday. Five deaths were reported. The daily tally was up by 1,819 cases from the same day last week. It was the tenth consecutive day that the count was higher than the previous week.
3.Russian forces continue their attacks on Ukraine’s east and south, while the United Nations says grain exports from Ukraine will be able to resume as early as Friday.