Business

Mumbai, Mar 27 (PTI) The RBI on Friday put on hold EMI payments on all term loans for three months and cut interest rate by steepest in more than 11 years as it joined the government effort to rescue a slowing economy that has now got caught in coronavirus whirlwind.

BEIJING, March 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China and the United States should “unite to fight” the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the globe, said President Xi Jinping in a call with his US counterpart on Friday, according to state media.

The two countries have clashed in recent weeks over the virus, but Xi told President Donald Trump that China “wishes to continue sharing all information and experience with the US,” said state broadcaster CCTV.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysian Prime Minister on Friday announced an economic package amounting to RM250 billion aimed at the welfare of the people, support of businesses and strengthening the economy against the effects of the COVID-19.

The amount includes a fiscal boost of RM22 billion, government guarantees amounting to RM55 billion and other initiatives amounting to more than RM153 billion.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (NNN) — Qatar Airways says it has added 10,000 extra seats since Tuesday as part of its efforts to help people get to their home countries amid the COVID-19 scare.

In a statement here today, the airlines said it has been also providing charter services to Europe and the US from Asia, as well as additional flights to Paris, Perth and Dublin from Doha.

WASHINGTON, March 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Governments stepped up efforts on Thursday to help airlines hammered by a virus-induced travel slump, with the United States offering $58 billion in aid, Singapore promising to keep its carrier aloft, and Australia easing competition rules.

AirAsia, the region’s biggest budget carrier, was the latest airline to announce sweeping cuts to its schedule in response to the deepening crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak. It said some of its units would halt flights altogether for a period.

BRUSSELS, March 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union marked the 25th anniversary of its open-border Schengen agreement on Thursday with all its land borders shut or subject to heavy checks imposed in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Schengen agreement, underpinning an increasingly integrated and united Europe, came into force on March 26, 1995.

WASHINGTON/ACCRA, March 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that the Ghana government, has sent a special request for money to help the country address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The ringgit extended its gains against the US dollar at the opening session Thursday as the government and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) or Central Bank of Malaysia stepped in to cushion the economic impact of Covid-19 on the country due to the extended Movement Control Order (MCO) announced Wednesday.    

At 9.00 am, the local note stood at 4.3800/3950 against the greenback compared with Wednesday’s closing of 4.3838/3670.

WASHINGTON, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Senate unanimously passed the nation’s largest-ever rescue package, a US$2 trillion lifeline to suffering Americans, critically depleted hospitals and an economy all ravaged by a rapidly spreading coronavirus crisis.

The measure cleared the Senate 96-0 after days of tumultuous, sometimes bitter negotiations and debate, as the US death toll for the pandemic soared past 1,000, with 68,000 confirmed infections.

PARIS, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than three billion people have been asked to stay at home in almost 70 countries and territories as governments battle the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe.

Most of the countries concerned, including Argentina, Britain, France, India and Italy as well as many US states, have imposed mandatory lockdown measures. Others have introduced curfews, quarantines and other social distancing recommendations.