Business

SANTIAGO, May 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has left an extra 11.5 million people unemployed in Latin America, the United Nations and the International Labour Organization said.

The new estimate from the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the ILO would mean a total of 37.7 million people in the region are now unemployed.

21 May 2020; MEMO: The Kuwaiti Minister of State for Municipal Affairs, Waleed Al-Jassim, on Tuesday ordered 50 per cent of expat municipal employees be sacked after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, Al-Qabas news site reported.

The site quoted a source as saying that Al-Jassim chaired a virtual meeting with the heads of municipal sectors and informed them of the decision.

Wellington, May 21 (AP) New Zealand's prime minister wants employers to consider switching to a four-day work week as a way to promote tourism, which has been hard-hit by the pandemic.

Jacinda Ardern said on Facebook Live people had learned a lot about work flexibility during the lockdown that was eased last week.

The nation's borders remain closed but Ardern said more flexible working arrangements could allow New Zealanders to travel more within their own country.

KANPUR: Though shops in the city have been opened for a defined duration, online shopping is still preferred by the customers. They do not want to go to the market owing to the restrictions. 

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) A day after announcing resumption of domestic commercial passenger flights from May 25, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday issued detailed guidelines for airlines, airports, passengers and other stakeholders.

The ministry said it will prescribe lower and upper limit on air fares and airlines will have to adhere to it "during the period of COVID-19 pandemic".

"On the day of commencement (May 25), limited operations (about one-third) would be permitted," it said.

KAJANG, May 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said the government has always been sensitive to consumer complaints and has been monitoring the price of goods from the start of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

He said this when commenting on complaints that the government has been slow in controlling the prices of essential goods ahead of Aidilfitri.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies need to adopt an open trade policy to safeguard food security in the region amid COVID-19, says a new policy brief by the APEC Policy Support Unit.

The recent policy brief on export restrictions and food security in the context of the pandemic shows that the variety of movement restrictions implemented across borders has affected the supply of food, especially perishables such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, seafood, and meat.

RENNES (France), May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus at a slaughterhouse in western France, the regional health authorities said.

The cases follow coronavirus outbreaks at meat plants not only in France but also in Germany, Spain, Australia, the United States and Brazil — where people tend to work in close proximity.

ATHENS, May 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The Greek tourist season will kick off next month, with international charter flights to popular locations resuming in July, the prime minister says.

“The tourism period begins on 15 June, when seasonal hotels can reopen,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised address.

“Let us make this summer the epilogue of the [Covid-19] crisis,” he added.

The coronavirus pandemic threatens to ruin Greece’s tourism industry, which is vital to the country’s economy.

SINGAPORE, May 21 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Singapore will gradually allow travellers to transit through the Changi Airport with effect from June 2, 2020, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

“This is part of Singapore’s strategy to gradually re-open air transport to meet the needs of our economy and our people, whilst ensuring sufficient safeguards for safe travel,” it said in a statement here Wednesday.

The statement said the airlines should submit their proposals for transfer lanes through the Changi Airport to CAAS.