Prime Minister Boris Johnson is fighting (at least) two big political fires. They may not substantially impact the Conservative Party’s fortunes at the May 6 local elections, but these blazes suck oxygen from policy making, undermine public trust and distract from attempts to rebuild and rebalance the British economy as it emerges from the pandemic. What’s worse, the harm to ...

Non-pandemic healthcare hasn’t been much on the agenda during President Joe Biden’s first 100 days. But reducing healthcare costs remains a priority for the public — ranking ahead of addressing racism, crime, immigration or climate change. Democrats’ wariness of the issue is understandable. The public is passionate about healthcare, but also risk-averse. Three of the last four presidents (two of ...

Bloomberg China’s government has expanded its antitrust crackdown beyond Jack Ma’s technology empire, launching an investigation into suspected monopolistic practices by food-delivery behemoth Meituan. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced the investigation, which began recently, in a statement. The antitrust watchdog is looking into alleged abuses including forced exclusivity arrangements known as “pick one of two.” The company ...

Bloomberg A quarantine-free air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore is finally slated to get off the ground with a start date of May 26, following setbacks that led to the plan initially being shelved last November. Largely shut off from the rest of the world during the pandemic, the two sides have been in talks for months to ...

Bloomberg Just two weeks ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded India’s economic growth forecast to 12.5% — the quickest rate among major economies. Now, as Covid-19 cases surge the most globally, that bullish view is looking increasingly in doubt. In Delhi, India’s political capital, the streets are mostly empty and the markets nearly deserted with almost all shops closed ...

Bloomberg As global banks make inroads into China’s $15 trillion asset management market, China International Capital Corp is launching a counter-offensive spanning from overseas acquisitions to hiring. CICC is searching for potential targets among medium-sized, Asia-focused managers including stock houses and hedge funds, said Frank Xu, head of asset management. Without takeovers, the size of his business line is already ...

Bloomberg Shares of the world’s largest rubber glove maker rose to a two-month high after the company cut its share sale in Hong Kong by nearly half of its earlier target, a move analysts said will minimise earnings dilution. Top Glove Corp climbed as much as 2.5% in Kuala Lumpur, the highest since February 23. The company, whose shares also ...

Bloomberg Ronnie Screwvala pioneered cable television in India in the 1980s and then built a unicorn that was acquired by Walt Disney Co. At 64, the entrepreneur’s latest venture UpGrad is speeding towards a landmark $1 billion valuation. The higher education and upskilling startup raised $120 million from Singapore-based investor Temasek Holdings Pte, according to its co-founder. That’s the first ...

Bloomberg With the US dragging its feet in offering India help to combat the world’s worst virus crisis, China is moving to drive a wedge between the democratic security partners. In a barrage of editorials, political cartoons and social-media posts in recent days, the Communist Party-backed Global Times newspaper blasted the US for failing to provide aid while calling on ...

Bloomberg Russian prosecutors ordered Alexey Navalny’s national network of campaign offices to suspend operations because of alleged “extremism,” deepening the crackdown on allies of the jailed opposition leader. The order bans the groups from posting online, organising events and using bank accounts pending a permanent court ruling, according to a copy posted in Twitter by Navalny’s allies. The Moscow City ...