TOKYO: Japan’s central bank on Friday (May 22) offered hundreds of billions of dollars in additional lending to help small firms in the world’s third-largest economy struggling with the economic devastation wrought by coronavirus. The Bank of Japan expanded its loan programme by 30 trillion yen (US$279 billion), bringing its […]
Day: May 21, 2020
SHANGHAI: China will severely punish the illegal hunting and trading of wild animals, it said in its government work report issued on Friday (May 22), as it tries to implement a ban imposed in January as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic has been blamed on a seafood […]
SEOUL: When South Korea’s domestic women’s golf tour held its premier event last week – without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic – no fewer than three of the world’s top 10 players took part. The country of 52 million people has a disproportionate share of the women’s world golf […]
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made an unusually small number of public appearances in the past two months, once again going three weeks without state media reporting his attendance at a public event, according to analysts. Kim’s low profile comes as North Korea imposes anti-coronavirus measures, although […]
Military delegates leave the Great Hall of the People after a meeting ahead of National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s annual session of parliament, in Beijing, China, on Mar 4, 2019. BEIJING: China’s defence spending this year will rise 6.6 per cent from 2019, according to a report issued at the […]
A policeman stands guard outside a warehouse where three women were crushed to death in a stampede while waiting to receive a cash donation in Colombo, Sri Lanka. COLOMBO: Three women were trampled to death during a stampede for a US$8 cash handout in Colombo on Thursday (May 21), […]
MILAN: Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini admires Uruguay forward Luis Suarez for biting him during a heated match at the 2014 World Cup, he said in his autobiography. Suarez, who escaped punishment during the game, was later banned for four months plus nine internationals – but Chiellini said he bore no […]
NEW YORK: Italy’s Danilo Gallinari likes the chances his Oklahoma City Thunder make a deep NBA playoff run if the season resumes, but says safety must be emphasized in any comeback plan. The 31-year-old forward, whose homeland was among the nations most severely struck by the coronavirus pandemic, calls home […]
MELBOURNE: Australia are a “nine out of 10” chance to host India for a test series in the home summer and could also tour England for limited overs series beforehand, Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts said. Cricket has been shut down since March due to the novel coronavirus outbreak and […]
BEIJING: China refrained from setting a 2020 gross domestic product growth target and pledged to step up spending and financing to support its economy, according to Premier Li Keqiang’s work report released on Friday (May 22) at the start of the annual parliament meeting. Given “great uncertainty” caused by the […]