Trends - coronavirus pandemic - Business Recorder

Markets

BOJ's Kuroda offers cautiously upbeat view on global, Japan growth

After rebounding from the initial hit of COVID-19, Japan's economy is seen suffering a contraction in the current quarter due to weak consumer demand.

Updated 30 Mar, 2021 12:47pm

Markets

OPEC+ to reconvene to navigate crude market volatility

Without the production cuts, limited storage capacity could be saturated and the danger of a fall in prices -- currently hovering around $60 per barrel -- is real.

Published 30 Mar, 2021 09:44am

Pakistan

PTI leader urges people to follow corona SOPs

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Punjab President Senator Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry has appealed to the...

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:45am

Business & Finance

Poverty rises to 15-year-high in Italy

ROME: Poverty rates in Italy, whose economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, rose last year to the...

Published 30 Mar, 2021 05:45am

Pakistan

COVID hotspots: Smart lockdown imposed in Islamabad to curb spread of virus

Smart lockdown has been imposed in seven sub-sectors while a complete lockdown has been put in place in six areas including Bani Gala
Authorities have imposed Section 144 in Quetta for two weeks amid an increase in coronavirus cases

Published 29 Mar, 2021 12:35pm

World

Pandemic fuels travel boom — in virtual reality

WASHINGTON: Jem Jenkins Jones was stuck at home in Wales for much of the past year amid pandemic lockdowns but...

Published 29 Mar, 2021 06:05am

Pakistan

Public gathering at graveyards banned

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has banned any kind of public gathering in graveyards ...

Updated 29 Mar, 2021 06:32am

Business & Finance

Japan downgrades Q4 GDP as companies scale back spending

TOKYO: Japan’s economy expanded at a slower-than-initially-reported pace in October-December, with firms ...

Published 29 Mar, 2021 06:05am

Pakistan

First case: Man booked by Lahore police for not wearing face mask

An FIR has been registered against Muhammad Javed at Islampura police station for violating corona SOPs
Lahore Commissioner says those people who fail to follow COVID-19 guidelines will be arrested and put behind bars

Updated 28 Mar, 2021 02:31pm

World

Cities worldwide dim lights to mark Earth Hour

Experts believe human activity, such as widespread deforestation, destruction of animals' habitats and climate change, is spurring this increase, and warn more pandemics could occur if nothing is done.

Updated 28 Mar, 2021 05:31pm

Pakistan

COVID-19 pandemic: Pakistan reports 57 deaths, over 4,000 new cases in 24 hours

With more fatalities, the total death tally due to the deadly disease has reached 14,215
Asad Umar says the federal government might impose ‘tough decisions’ in wake of coronavirus pandemic situation in the country

Updated 28 Mar, 2021 10:55am

Sports

Formula E doubles up in Rome and Valencia

PARIS: Formula E added grand prix in Rome and Valencia on Saturday to bring to 10 the number of races on the...

Updated 28 Mar, 2021 10:55am

World

Facebook services down in Bangladesh amid protests against Modi visit

The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not comment if it had blocked Facebook and its messenger app, but it has previously used internet shutdowns as a tool to curb the spread of protests.
Dozens were also hurt on Friday in the capital Dhaka where police used rubber bullets and teargas in clashes with violent protesters.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 08:56pm

Business & Finance

Paris, EU near deal on Air France bailout conditions: report

The expected deal would see Air France give up fewer airport flight slots at its Paris base than initially sought by the European Commission, notably at Orly airport, the newspaper said in a report published late on Friday.
The Air France-KLM group recorded a 7.1 billion euro ($8.38 billion) net loss for last year.

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:47pm

Business & Finance

Japan’s record budget clears parliament

TOKYO: Japan’s record $1 trillion budget for the upcoming fiscal year was approved by parliament on Friday, ...

Published 27 Mar, 2021 05:41am

Sports

Italy to host Euro 2020 opener with crowd, says federation chief

"I'm sure that we will open the European Championship in Rome and that we will do it with a crowd in the stadium," Gravina told a news conference on Friday.
"I still don't know how many spectators there will be, but there will definitely be a crowd."

Published 26 Mar, 2021 09:44pm

World

Japan's record budget clears parliament, more COVID-19 spending eyed

106.6 trln yen budget contains COVID-19 reserve of 5 trln yen.
FY2021/22 budget approval may pave way for more spending.
Finmin vows to combat virus, revive economy, fix finances.

Published 26 Mar, 2021 05:57pm

Business & Finance

Global container crunch deepens with boxships stranded in Suez Canal

Ever Given boxship ran aground in Suez Canal.
Shipping backed up either end of canal.
Shipping lines were already facing problems.

Published 25 Mar, 2021 07:57pm

World

Brazil surpasses 300,000 Covid-19 deaths

Bolsonaro has softened his position on vaccines under pressure, saying Wednesday's meeting had "unanimously agreed" on the need for mass vaccination.

Published 25 Mar, 2021 10:57am

World

Illegal mining surges on Yanomami indigenous land: report

The Yanomami, who are known for their face paint and intricate piercings, were largely isolated from the outside world until the mid-20th century.

Published 25 Mar, 2021 10:02am

World

After backlash, Merkel ditches stricter Easter lockdown

Merkel ditches plans for extra holidays on April 1, 3.
Merkel says hasty plan for stricter shutdown was a mistake.
Apologises for adding to Germans' uncertainty in pandemic.

Published 24 Mar, 2021 05:21pm

World

Congress to grill US internet giants over disinformation

"It's still politics and you are still going to have the whole Republicans-versus-Democrats and free speech coming into play."

Published 24 Mar, 2021 12:16pm

Business & Finance

Lebanon hikes bread price for third time in nine months

More than half the population lives in poverty, according to the UN.

Published 24 Mar, 2021 10:27am

Business & Finance

Mexico's central bank seen maintaining key rate at 4.0pc

The central bank in February cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 4pc, flagging uncertainty over the outlook.

Updated 23 Mar, 2021 05:11pm

Markets

Greece delays gas utility bid deadline to third quarter

The Greek privatisation agency last year shortlisted seven investors for a 65% stake in DEPA Commercial and the deadline for binding offers was due to expire this month.
The seven investor groups that have qualified to bid include two consortiums, one between Hellenic Petroleum and Italy's Edison International Holding and the other including Motor Oil and Public Power Corp.

Published 22 Mar, 2021 08:26pm

World

Bolsonaro critics face 'intimidation campaign' in Brazil

Lawyers and human-rights activists warn Brazil is seeing a surge in legal and extra-legal moves to stifle dissent against Bolsonaro, in some cases with legislation and tactics dating back to the country's 1964-1985 military dictatorship -- for which the president is openly nostalgic.

Updated 21 Mar, 2021 05:52pm

Pakistan

COVID-19 outbreak: Pakistan records 44 deaths, 3,667 new infections in 24 hours

The COVID-19 positivity rate in the country has reached 8.43 percent
At least 2,900 patients are in critical condition while the total number of infections in the country now currently stands at 626,802

Published 21 Mar, 2021 08:58am

World

G7 makes progress on pandemic relief for poorer nations: UK

Britain - which is chairing the Group of Seven (G7) this year - said G7 finance ministers had agreed to support a "new and sizeable" increase in the volume of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), an internal currency used by the IMF.
Any expansion of SDRs will need to be agreed with other countries ahead of the IMF's spring meeting that takes place in April.

Published 19 Mar, 2021 09:08pm

Pakistan

Pakistan's COVID positivity rate reaches 8% with 3,449 new infections in 24 hours

At least 40 people died of the virus in the last 24 hours raising the death toll to 13,757
NCOC states that 42,845 tests were conducted across the country while 2,064 people admitted in different hospitals are in critical condition

Published 19 Mar, 2021 11:50am

World

Pandemic pushes 32mn Indians out of middle class, says Pew Research

India is estimated to have seen a greater decrease in the middle class and a much sharper rise in poverty than China in the COVID-19 downturn.
In January last year, the World Bank forecast almost the same level of economic growth for India and China, at 5.8% and 5.9% respectively, in 2020.

Published 18 Mar, 2021 07:38pm