International News

Bloomberg Denmark will release 60 billion kroner ($9 billion) of vacation pay that’s been held in reserve in an effort to create new jobs and boost consumer spending. The funds had set aside amid changes to the system. The government has now agreed with parliament to make it available to both public and private-sector workers by October, according to statement ...

Bloomberg The German government will request authorisation from parliament to raise a further 62 billion euros ($70 billion) in debt to help pay for its massive stimulus program, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plan. That would bring the total of new debt this year to 218 billion euros, said the people who requested not to be ...

Bloomberg Sweden’s financial watchdog says it may need to tighten rules around bond trading following a liquidity crunch that led 35 fixed-income funds to slam shut in March. Peter Svensson, a spokesman for the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) in Stockholm, said one area of particular interest is an exemption granted to Swedish securities firms a few years back, essentially giving ...

Bloomberg British Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged consumers to go out and “shop with confidence” when stores reopen in England on Monday, as he suggested social distancing rules will be eased. Johnson said coronavirus regulations requiring people to stay 2 meters apart in public spaces could be relaxed as infection rates fall. His signal will be welcomed by Conservative Party ...

Bloomberg Businesses across the US have begun intensive Covid-19 disinfection regimens, exposing returning workers and consumers to some chemicals that are largely untested for human health, a development that’s alarming health and environmental safety experts. The rush to disinfect is well-intentioned. Executives want to protect employees while abiding by US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines (and to avoid ...

Bloomberg State Bank of India is seeking to recover two guarantees furnished by the former billionaire Anil Ambani, which according to a news report are worth more than $158 million. The state-run lender filed an application with the National Company Law Tribunal to appoint a resolution professional, according to an update on the court’s website. The tycoon, who had offered ...

Bloomberg One Hong Kong businessman moved $10 million to Singapore and plans to transfer more. Another is eyeing London property, worried that prices in Hong Kong are too high. Well-to-do families across the city are opening offshore bank accounts and applying for alternative passports. While it doesn’t add up to an exodus just yet, Hong Kong’s rich are increasingly hedging ...

Bloomberg The southwest monsoon, which waters more than half of India’s farmland, was expected to cover the entire western Maharashtra state including Mumbai in the next 24 hours, potentially hurting efforts to fight the virus outbreak in the city that’s emerged as the epicenter of infections in the South Asian nation. Conditions are becoming favourable for the weather system to ...

Bloomberg India’s Dharavi, the continent’s most crowded slum, has gone from coronavirus hotspot to potential success story, offering a model for developing nations struggling to contain the pandemic. Authorities have knocked on 47,500 doors since April to measure temperatures and oxygen levels, screened almost 700,000 people in the slum cluster and set up fever clinics. Those showing symptoms were shifted ...

Bloomberg European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are among leaders urging Italy to take advantage of the region’s proposed 750 billion-euro ($844 billion) recovery plan to speed up structural reforms. The so-called Next Generation EU plan is a “unique opportunity for Italy,” Von der Leyen said in a video message to ...