JAKARTA -- Indonesia has prepared a stimulus package worth 120 trillion rupiahs (some 8.1 billion U.S. dollars) to accelerate the economic growth to counter the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, the country's finance minister said on Friday.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati pointed out that the package constitutes 0.8 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and it will be used to shore up the economic growth which has been slowing down since recently. (Indonesia-Economic stimulus)

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japan's health ministry and local governments said Friday the number of COVID-19 infections rose by 21 to 697 cases in Japan as of 6:30 p.m. local time here.

The death toll currently stands at 26, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo. (Japan-COVID-19)

- - - -

CANBERRA -- Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has tested positive for COVID-19, and the result was confirmed on Friday afternoon.

On his official twitter, Dutton wrote "this morning I woke up with a temperature and sore throat." (Australia-Home Affairs Minister-COVID-19)

- - - -

TOKYO -- Japan on Friday passed a special bill enabling Prime Minster Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency if necessary to bolster measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 as the number of infections continue to rise nationwide.

To better combat the COVID-19 outbreak, the special bill was passed by the House of Councillors, after clearing the House of Representatives a day earlier and gaining Cabinet approval prior to that. (Japan-Bill-Combat epidemic)

- - - -

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong stocks reported mild losses on Friday despite sharp falls of other major markets worldwide after spreading coronavirus plus falling oil prices dampened investors' confidence in the global economy.

Although plunging at opening, the Hang Seng Index finished the day 1.14 percent lower at 24,032.91 points, outperforming most of global indices including Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei, which nosedived more than 6 percent. However, it still sank to the weakest level in over three years when starting the morning session 7.36 percent lower. (Hong Kong-Financial market) Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)