Bloomberg Italy’s population shrank in 2020 by the most in over 100 years, as measured by the number of births minus deaths, with the coronavirus pandemic amplifying a trend that’s been underway since 2007, according to a report released by Istat. The number of deaths outnumbered births by 342 thousand, the most since 1918. The overall population fell by 384 ...

Bloomberg Germany’s Finance Ministry gave explicit backing in 2019 to financial regulator BaFin’s controversial approach to fraud accusations at Wirecard AG, raising questions about its role in one of the biggest corporate scandals in recent history. In a March 2019 phone call, Deputy Finance Minister Joerg Kukies gave the head of BaFin, Felix Hufeld, broad support for his efforts to ...

Bloomberg Intel Corp. unveiled an ambitious bid to regain its manufacturing lead by spending billions of dollars on new factories and creating a foundry business that will make chips for other companies. The plan, launched by new Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger, is an aggressive move that puts Intel into direct competition with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s most-advanced ...

Bloomberg Mercedes-Benz is about to unveil a new flagship model it expects to boast market-leading battery range, following through on its pledge to compete in the luxury electric-vehicle segment with top technology. The April 15 debut of the EQS — the first Mercedes built on dedicated electric-car underpinnings — will mark a milestone for the German brand that’s been criticised ...

Bloomberg Facebook Inc. will start to reopen its Silicon Valley offices beginning in May, a signal the technology industry may return — at least in part — to the office after more than a year of working from home during the global pandemic. Facebook will begin by opening Bay Area offices at just 10% capacity, and expects that its largest ...

Bloomberg Google asked the US Federal Aviation Administration for permission to test drones to research how the technology can help monitor and control fires, before abandoning the effort. The Alphabet Inc. company’s climate and energy research group said it planned to use the drone at a private property in Firebaugh, California, according to a filing with FAA. Those plans have ...

Bloomberg Apple Inc. is considering launching an Apple Watch with a rugged casing aimed at athletes, hikers and others who use the device in more extreme environments, reports said. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has internally discussed introducing such a Watch variation later in 2021 or 2022 at the earliest, said the people. This is at least the second time ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (Taqa group), one of the largest listed integrated utility companies in the region, announced on Wednesday its 2030 vision for sustainable and profitable growth. The strategic plan places at its core the global acceleration of the energy transition, and Taqa’s ambition to become a champion for low carbon power and ...

ABU DHABI / WAM In a few days, the Islamic world will begin the Holy Month of Ramadan, which will take place for the second consecutive year amidst the extraordinary conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the growing level of knowledge and awareness of the virus, the special nature of the Holy Month requires reiterating the importance of having ...

DUBAI / WAM A total of 1,131 real estate and property transactions valued at AED3 billion were registered during the week ending March 24. As many as 115 plots were sold for AED548.96 million, 721 apartments and villas were sold for AED1.25 billion. The top three transactions were a land in Palm Jumeirah sold for AED55 million, followed by a ...