Business

Berlin, Jun 9 (AP) German exports plunged by nearly a quarter in April compared with the previous month as coronavirus shutdowns dragged down demand, official data showed Tuesday.

The figures from the Federal Statistical Office followed data showing big drops in factory orders and industrial production in Europe's biggest economy in April, underlining expectations of a sharp economic contraction in the second quarter.

Thiruvananthapuram, June 9 (PTI) Malls, restaurants and places of worship opened in Kerala on Tuesday morning after over two-and half months of Coronavirus induced lockdown.

There were very few visitors in the malls and restaurants in the early hours and people preferred takeaways in eateries.

Various temples, including the famous Lord Krishna temple at Guruvayoor, a few churches and mosques opened in the state for the devotees.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Kuala Lumpur stock exchange, Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session higher on persistent buying activities across the board, taking the cue from the higher overnight performance of Wall Street as hopes of an economic recovery soar following the easing in COVID-19 lockdowns.

At 12.30 pm, the benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 23.29 points to 1,579.62 last Friday’s close of 1,556.33.

The index opened 16.47 points higher at 1,572.80 and hovered between 1,572.80 and 1,590.83  throughout the early trading session.

TRIPOLI, June 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the reopening of two major oilfields which were closed by tribal leaders in January to protest against the UN-backed government.

The UNSMIL said in a statement that it “welcomes the opening of the Sharara and El Feel oil fields this weekend. The oil blockade has needlessly cost the Libyan people over $5 billion due to lost oil sales as well as millions of dollars of indirect losses due to the shutdown of domestic refineries and damage caused by the oil infrastructure remaining idle.”

MOSCOW, June 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia announced it would lift a range of COVID-19 restrictions including a strict lockdown on Moscow, despite still recording thousands of new infections every day.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital’s general lockdown and pass system would end on Tuesday, allowing residents to travel freely for the first time since late March.

“Moscow is returning to the usual rhythm of life,” he said in a video message on Facebook, adding that the elderly and those with chronic diseases will be allowed to leave their homes.

NEW YORK, June 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Exactly 100 days after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in New York City, some workers began returning to jobs on Monday at the start of reopening from a citywide shutdown to battle the epidemic that killed nearly 22,000 of its residents.

People who had been staying home for months boarded subways and buses as the most populous US city began Phase One of its hopeful journey toward economic recovery.

WASHINGTON, June 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States warned that it would punish any country that deals with Iran’s top shipping company, accusing it of contributing to Tehran’s contested weapons programs.

The Treasury Department said sanctions came into effect Monday against the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, known by its acronym IRISL, as well as its Shanghai-based subsidiary E-Sail.

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The global economy is on track to shrink by 5.2 percent this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the deepest recession since the Second World War, the World Bank Group said in its latest Global Economic Prospects released Monday.

Economic activity in advanced economies is anticipated to contract 7 percent in 2020 as domestic demand and supply, trade, and finance have been severely disrupted, the report said. The U.S. economy is projected to shrink by 6.1 percent this year, while Euro Area could see a 9.1-percent contraction.

Kuwait City; 09 June 2020 (UMMN): A powerful parliamentarian in Kuwait has called for probing “Hindu doctors and nurses” to check if they are killing Arab Muslims by wrong medication.

In a tweet, Member of Kuwaiti National Assembly Mohammad Haif Al Mutairi urged his country’s Health Minister to immediately halt all health services-related contracts with India.

New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by 60 paisa per litre on Monday, for the second day in a row, as state-owned oil firms reverted to daily price revisions after a 83-day hiatus.

Petrol price in Delhi was hiked to Rs 72.46 per litre from Rs 71.86 on Sunday, while diesel rates were increased to Rs 70.59 a litre from Rs 69.99, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.