Author: News Desk

The eurozone economy contracted at a record rate in the first three months of the year and inflation slowed sharply as much economic activity in March came to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, data showed on Thursday. Economists expect even worse numbers for the second quarter. According to a preliminary flash estimate from the European Union’s statistics office Eurostat, economic output in the 19 countries sharing the euro currency in January-March was 3.8% smaller than in the previous three months – the sharpest quarterly decline since the time series started in 1995. Economists polled by Reuters had expected…

Aerial footage showed thousands of people queuing for miles down a dirt road in South Africa for charity food aid meant to relieve hunger caused by the coronavirus lockdown. The images from the neighbouring slums of Mooiplaas and Spruit, on the outskirts of the capital Pretoria, show the extent of need that South Africa’s economic lockdown has generated among many who even before the pandemic were living a hand-to-mouth existence. Africa’s most industrialised nation has recorded 5,350 cases and 103 deaths from the virus. About 90% of the inhabitants of these informal settlements are foreigners or undocumented migrants from other…

German travel start-ups have called on Google to share the burden they’re currently experiencing, according to a letter. The start-ups pay Google millions every year in advertising fees so that they feature high up in Google search results, in banner ads, and on Google’s own Hotel Finder platform. But like others in the travel sector, coronavirus has hit them hard; they’re having to issue refunds to travelers and new bookings have slowed down significantly. In a letter to Google’s chief business officer, Philipp Schindler, the start-up’s leaders call on Google to wait for the ad money it’s owed. Specifically, the companies…

In the implementation of the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s embassy to the United States has completed the evacuation of all Bahraini citizens in the U.S. and Canada who had expressed their wish to return home and requested assistance from the diplomatic mission. The requests followed the suspension of international flights due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The embassy, in coordination with the military, security and cultural attachés, evacuated the North America-based Bahrainis who wished to return home. Since the outbreak of the pandemic in the U.S. and Canada, the embassy…

In line with the possible evacuation of Indian Nationals due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Indian Embassy issued a data collection form for repatriation. The embassy highlighted that the purpose of the form is only for the collection of information in respect of those who want to return to India under compelling circumstances on a payment basis. So far no decision has been taken with regards to the resumption of flights to India. As and when a decision is taken, the Embassy of India will make an announcement. The form is to be filled for a single individual at a…

Kuwait’s Health Minister Dr. Basel Al-Sabah on Thursday announced the recovery of 150 people from the coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the tally to 1,539. The minister said analyses and medical examinations and tests proved that these cases were cured of the coronavirus. The recovered will be transferred to the hospital recuperation ward, pending their discharge within the next few days, he said.

“Private-sector employers must commit to ensuring employee wages are safeguarded and paid on time via the Wages Protection System.”, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, MoHRE. In a statement on Wednesday, the UAE ministry noted that employers must adhere to Ministerial Decree No. 739 of 2016 concerning the protection of wages, as well as employment contracts signed by employers and employees. The ministry advised that employers that have granted employees ‘early leave’ – as part of precautionary measures during the coronavirus pandemic – must expedite the required documentation to register such consent, via a temporary supplementary annex to…

The Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) Hospital outpatients clinics and pharmacy will close on Sunday, a public holiday in compensation the International Workers’ Day, which falls on Friday (May 1) already a day-off. The SMC Hospital emergency pharmacy and inpatients’ pharmacy will continue to operate 7/7, round the clock, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced in a circular. Visits to SMC inpatients will be suspended on Sunday (May 3) which was declared a day-off in compensation the International Workers’ Day, which falls on Friday (May 1). North Muharraq Health Centre, Hamad Kanoo Health Centre in Riffa and Youssef Abdulrahman Engineer Health…

COVID-19 patients on the antiviral remdesivir recovered more than 30 percent faster than those on a placebo, the results of a major clinical trial showed Wednesday as a top US scientist hailed the drug’s “clear-cut” benefit. It represents the first time any medication has been shown to improve outcomes against the COVID-19 illness, which has claimed more than 200,000 lives globally and brought the world economy to a grinding halt. A statement by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that Fauci heads said that patients on the drug had a 31 percent faster time to recovery than those…

Facebook shares rose more than 8% in after-hours trading on Wednesday after the company announced its first-quarter results. Earnings (EPS): $1.71 Revenue: $17.74 billion Daily active users (DAUs): 1.73 billion Monthly active users (MAUs): 2.6 billion Average revenue per user (ARPU): $6.95 Facebook said it is now seeing signs of stabilization after seeing an initial steep decrease in advertising revenue in March. This echoes what Google on Tuesday said it saw in its own advertising business. The company’s revenue came in at $17.74 billion, up nearly 18% from the $15.08 billion the company reported in the first quarter of 2019. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv expect $1.75 in earnings per share…