UK delays virus app roll-out

Bloomberg The UK has pushed back the roll-out of its coronavirus-tracing mobile phone application, in a potential setback for its bid to ease the nation’s lockdown. While Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week that the app would be ready in mid-May, it is now planned to be released nationally within “weeks,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman James Slack said. ...

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Germany’s Scholz seeks $62bn aid program for municipalities

Bloomberg German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz is planning a 57 billion-euro ($62 billion) aid package to help municipalities being hit by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said. The plan, which Scholz announced on Saturday without giving the size of the measures, would help local governments cover outstanding debt and tax shortfalls caused ...

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Italy to lift travel ban from June 3

Bloomberg Italy is set to open businesses, while Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government decided to unblock the country’s national borders and allow citizens to move freely within country starting June 3. Italians will be allowed full free movement, according to a government decree published in the early hours of Saturday morning. The statement confirmed that some businesses will reopen May ...

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Coronavirus: France outlook revised to negative by Fitch

Bloomberg France is at higher risk of a credit downgrade by Fitch after the outlook on the country’s AA rating was revised to negative. Fitch cited the substantial worsening in public finances and economic activity expected this year due to the pandemic. “The combination of much reduced economic activity due to containment measures introduced from March and government policies to ...

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Tesla says it has county nod to reopen plant

Bloomberg Tesla Inc. told employees it received approval to resume operations at its factory after Elon Musk threatened to move the company’s headquarters and future programs following a move by a California county to block the reopening. The company said Alameda County’s interim health officer had approved its Fremont work plan and safe measures, according to an email sent to ...

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This is where global investors are placing bets right now

Bloomberg More than $8 trillion has been thrown at the Covid-19 crisis by governments around the globe and hundreds of billions more by central banks from Washington to Wellington. And that means investors are finding a swath of opportunities from investment-grade bonds to emerging-market equities. Looking where central banks themselves are buying, even if it’s been well flagged, still has ...

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European stocks climb with US futures; oil, gold advance

Bloomberg Stocks climbed in Europe alongside US equity futures on Monday as investors found reason for encouragement in signs businesses are reopening across major economies and after shares sank last week. Crude oil advanced. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose on gains in mining and travel shares, including airlines IAG SA and Ryanair Holdings Plc. S&P 500 contracts increased after ...

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Rupee declines with India stocks as rescue package falls flat

Bloomberg India’s rupee declined the most in two weeks, and stocks fell as investors were unimpressed by the government’s economic stimulus package. The rupee weakened as much as 0.5% in the third day of declines. The S&P BSE Sensex of stocks slid 2.8% at 2:50 pm in Mumbai, while the NSE Nifty 50 Index slipped by a similar magnitude. Both ...

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Covid-19: Abu Dhabi University creates face shield prototype

ABU DHABI / WAM The Abu Dhabi University (ADU) College of Engineering (COE) has rallied its engineering labs to join the fight against Covid-19, and by working closely with hospitals in Abu Dhabi produced over 1,000 clips required for face masks within just two days. Additionally, ADU has successfully developed its first prototype of a face shield to be provided ...

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Etihad Rail’s second phase contracts valued at AED18b

ABU DHABI / WAM Mohammed Rashid Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of Relations at Etihad Rail, stated that the total value of contracts for the second phase of its national railway network project amounted to AED18 billion. In his exclusive statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) Al Marzouqi said the project is progressing well, and Etihad Rail has begun construction ...

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