The UK’s “Freedom Day” has been declared a damp squib by taxi firm Addison Lee, and it’s hard to disagree. Even with hospitalisations and deaths low — and cases falling — mobility is plateauing and below pre-pandemic levels in some areas. Brits are exercising their freedom to mingle selectively. We are a long way from the celebratory orgies reported by ...

As inflation rates accelerate around the world, central banks are talking about tapering their stimulus programs. With UK data starting to give distinctly mixed signals about how fast the economy is rebounding, the Bank of England (BOE) should err on the side of caution this week as it debates when and whether to start easing back on its support. The ...

Bloomberg Manufacturing managers in Southeast Asia saw a slump in activity as the region grapples with one of the world’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks, while North Asia continued to see a pick up as the global economy recovers. In Southeast Asia, which has emerged as one of the world’s worst-hit pandemic areas in recent weeks, Indonesia’s IHS Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers ...

Bloomberg India’s plan to sell two state-controlled lenders may get deferred to next financial year as the government is yet to seek parliament’s nod for changes in laws required to start the transaction, according to people familiar with the matter. The Finance Ministry hasn’t finalised modalities to seek approval from lawmakers for the sale, which leaves little time for the ...

Bloomberg India’s jobless rate fell to the lowest level in four months in July, adding to signs of a nascent recovery in the economy where sales tax collections and demand for some commodities have signaled a rebound. The unemployment rate dropped to 6.95% last month from 9.17% the previous month, according to latest data from private research firm Centre for ...

Bloomberg A massive methane plume detected last month over Kazakhstan occurred near a major pipeline that supplies natural gas to China. The cloud was observed roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the largest Kazakh city of Almaty on July 24, and had an emissions rate of more than 200 tons of methane an hour, according to an estimate from ...

Bloomberg Indonesia will exempt yachts and cruise ships used for tourism from a 75% luxury tax as the world’s biggest archipelago looks into ways to revive its vacation industry amid the pandemic. Similar sailing vessels built for public transport are also exempted, while those imported for other uses are still subject to the levy, the tax office said in a ...

Bloomberg Thailand is set to expand its quasi-lockdown measures to its regions that are hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic and home to about 40% of the population. The most stringent restrictions in 13 provinces, including the capital Bangkok and its surrounding regions, will be extended to August 31, and those curbs will be expanded to 16 additional provinces from Tuesday, ...

Bloomberg Kim Jong Un’s sister warned that upcoming US-South Korea military drills could jeopardise talks with Seoul, raising doubts about a diplomatic breakthrough less than a week after both sides announced a resumption of communications. Kim Yo Jong said the plan to hold annual allied exercises this month “seriously undermines” efforts to restore ties, according to the official Korean Central ...

Bloomberg Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro lashed out against the country’s electronic voting system, rousing supporters who took to the streets in major cities over fears of cheating in next year’s election. The 2022 presidential contest should use paper ballots and have a public vote count to assure fraud doesn’t occur, Bolsonaro said in an address to backers that was posted ...