International News

Bloomberg The Italian government has approved its latest bundle of coronavirus related norms aimed at supporting businesses and workers damaged by the coronavirus pandemic. The measures known as “August decree” include tax breaks for small and medium-sized businesses and companies that hire in Southern Italy, an extension of one-off payments for tourism and entertainment industry workers, money for the healthcare ...

Bloomberg Boris Johnson’s government warned British tourists they face more disruption to their plans for holidays in Europe amid reports that France may be next on the UK list of countries hit by coronavirus travel restrictions. Belgium, Andorra and The Bahamas were added to the quarantine list — meaning all passengers arriving from these areas will need to self-isolate at ...

Bloomberg Norway’s government is now advising its citizens to avoid all unnecessary travel abroad, regardless of coronavirus (Covid-19) infection levels in their intended destination. The announcement from the country’s health minister, Bent Hoie, comes amid what was described in Oslo as “an alarming” surge in coronavirus. Some 290 cases of Covid-19 have been documented in the Nordic country over the ...

Bloomberg Canada’s economy recorded a third straight month of strong employment gains that have recouped more than half of losses from Covid-19. Employment rose by 418,500 in July, bringing to 1.7 million the number of jobs reclaimed over the past three months. Canada lost 3 million jobs in March and April at the height of the pandemic. The employment rebound ...

Bloomberg Argentina’s creditors have approached several international organisations to seek endorsement for a proposal to change the rules that govern some of the country’s overseas securities, according to people familiar with the matter. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the US Treasury, the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and the Institute of International Finance (IIF) are among the organisations that have ...

Bloomberg Siemens Healthineers agreed to buy Varian Medical Systems in cash in a transaction that values the medical equipment maker at about $16.4 billion, more than 20% above its current market value. The German company offered $177.5 a share for the Palo Alto, California-based business, which will be financed through both debt and equity, Siemens Healthineers said in a statement ...

Bloomberg Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering sealing off Greater London and ordering at-risk members of the population to stay at home under a potential scenario designed to avert a second national lockdown, according to news reports on Saturday. Possible measures include locking down the capital if infection rates spike and tightening quarantine rules on those flying into the UK, ...

Bloomberg When it comes to helping employees balance work hours with relaxation, Acuity Insurance Chief Executive Officer Ben Salzmann has a unique tool at his disposal: a 65-foot Ferris wheel. Before the pandemic struck, Salzmann would regularly fire up the amusement-park staple inside the company’s Sheboygan, Wisconsin, headquarters. About twice a month, employees were invited to bring their families in ...

Bloomberg A group of Italian investors may bid for London Stock Exchange Group Plc’s Borsa Italiana unit, amid government pressure to keep an asset that’s considered strategic in “Italian hands,” Corriere della Sera reported. The potential investors include banks, Italy’s state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, insurance firms and state-backed funds such as Fondo Strategico Italiano and F2i SGR SpA, ...

Bloomberg Hammerson Plc, which owns about a dozen large UK malls, aims to raise $785 million from a rights issue, Sky News reported. The owner of the Bullring in Birmingham and the Brent Cross shopping center in north London is seeking extra cash as coronavirus crisis slashes revenues for landlords, Sky reported, without saying where it got the information. Lazard ...