Business

KUALA LUMPUR,  April 1 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Beginning today, Malaysians from all walks of life will receive  the various assistance and initiatives under the Economic Stimulus Package announced by the government to ease the economic burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apart from the RM20 billion Economic Stimulus Package announced on Feb 27, the people also get to benefit from the various assistance under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last Friday.

TIJUANA/CIUDAD JUAREZ (Mexico), April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world’s busiest land border has fallen quiet as restrictions to contain the coronavirus prevent millions of Mexicans from making daily trips north, including many who work in US businesses.

At least 4 million Mexicans residing in cities along the 3,144-km border have been hit hard by the restrictions on non-essential travel. The measures effectively invalidate visas allowing short crossings into US cities to visit family, get medical care or shop.  

1 April 2020; AFP: The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic continued to worsen Wednesday despite unprecedented lockdowns, as the head of the United Nations sounded the alarm on what he said was humanity's worst crisis since World War II.

The warning came as Donald Trump told Americans to brace for a "very painful" few weeks after the United States registered its deadliest 24 hours of the crisis.

31 Mar 2020; MEMO: Saudi Arabia announced yesterday it will increase its crude oil exports starting from May, despite the coronavirus pandemic, a Saudi Arabia Energy Ministry official said yesterday.

This decision comes amid an escalating price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia after the coronavirus pandemic has lowered demand for oil all over the world.

Crude oil is at its lowest price since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1991.

Riyadh, Mar 31 (AFP/PTI) Finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 major economies will hold a second round of virtual talks Tuesday to push ahead the coronavirus response, the Saudi hosts said.

G20 leaders last week pledged a "united front" in the fight against the pandemic, saying they were injecting 5 trillion into the global economy to head off forecasts of a deep recession.

Montreal, Mar 31 (AFP/PTI) Air Canada announced Monday it would temporarily lay off nearly half of its employees and reduce activity by up to 90 percent in the second quarter due to the coronavirus.

The measures would affect 15,200 employees and about 1,300 managers from April 3, the airline said in a press release.

BRUSSELS, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU announced nearly 40 million euros to help Western Balkan countries deal with the coronavirus, after Brussels came under fire for not doing enough for its neighbours.

A further 140 million euros was announced for the European Union’s “eastern partner” countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

The moves come as the EU seeks to fight back in a publicity battle with China and Russia, who have made a great show of their gestures of support to countries struggling with the COVID-19 crisis.

PARIS, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A number of European governments have rejected Chinese-made equipment designed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Thousands of testing kits and medical masks manufactured by an unathorised Shenzhen based company Bioeasy Biotechnology are below standard or defective, according to authorities in Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands.

30 Mar 2020; MEMO: Qatar Airways will have to seek government support eventually, Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker told Reuters on Sunday, warning that the Middle East carrier could soon run out of the cash needed to continue flying.

Several states have stepped in to help airlines hammered by the coronavirus pandemic that has virtually halted international travel, with the United States offering $58 billion in aid.

Singapore, Mar 30 (AFP/PTI) Oil prices extended losses in Asian trade Monday and languished at 17-year lows, with the coronavirus crisis escalating around the world and no end in sight to a vicious price war.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate fell 5.3 percent to trade at 20 a barrel, while international benchmark Brent crude was off 6.5 percent at 23.