US-born princess evicted from Rome villa famed for Caravaggio fresco

ROME (Reuters) – A U.S.-born princess was evicted on Thursday from a Roman villa featuring the only known fresco by Italian baroque artist Caravaggio, and denounced her ousting as a travesty of justice. “I am being brutally evicted from a home which I have lovingly taken care of for the past 20 years,” Princess Rita…

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Mercedes-Benz reports Q1 adjusted return on sales of 14.8%

BERLIN (Reuters) -Mercedes-Benz on Thursday posted first-quarter group adjusted return on sales of 14.8%, above market expectations, boosted by higher prices and strong demand. “Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered an adjusted return on sales of 14.8%, due to healthy net pricing, higher sales and a good product mix,” the carmaker said in a statement. Analysts expected an…

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Yellen wants more World Bank reforms in coming months, eyes subnational lending

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she is insisting that next steps in the World Bank’s evolution be taken in coming months, including potential changes to allow the bank’s private sector and poor country lending arms to lend to sub-sovereign entities like cities and regional authorities. Yellen told Reuters…

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Canada offering more than C$13 billion for VW battery plant – govt source

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada has agreed to provide up to C$13 billion ($9.7 billion) in subsidies and a C$700 million grant to lure Volkswagen AG into building its North American battery plant in the country, a government source said on Thursday. The total Canadian investment, which could also include funds from the Ontario government, will largely…

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Alphabet to combine AI research units Google Brain, DeepMind

(Reuters) -Alphabet Inc is combining Google Brain and DeepMind, as it doubles down on artificial intelligence research in its race to compete with rival systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot. The new division will be led by DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and its setting up will ensure “bold and responsible development of general AI”, Alphabet CEO…

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Lockheed and Rheinmetall to develop German version of HIMARS rocket launchers

BERLIN (Reuters) – Arms makers Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall will team up to develop a German rocket artillery system, they said on Thursday, a weapon in the same category as the HIMARS rocket launchers Lockheed has been supplying to Ukraine. HIMARS is a missile launcher mounted on a truck that can fire multiple guided missiles…

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