Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc. plans to open dozens of grocery stores in US cities, The Wall Street Journal reported, a move that would expand the retail and technology giant’s grocery footprint beyond its Whole Foods Market chain. The first of these stores will open in Los Angeles as early as the end of 2019, and Amazon is in talks to open ...

Bloomberg Gap Inc.’s announcement that it’s spinning off the best part of its business — Old Navy — sent the apparel retailer’s shares soaring 25 percent in premarket trading. The remaining company, which still needs a name, will consist of the namesake Gap brand, Athleta and Banana Republic, plus a couple of lesser known brands. It will have annual revenue ...

Bloomberg The French and Dutch governments moved to calm a political maelstrom triggered by their power struggle over Air France- KLM, with finance ministers papering over differences and pledging to work together to review the carrier’s shareholding and operations. “Our goal is to make Air France-KLM the best-performing airline in the world,” French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said at ...

Bloomberg Massmart Holdings Ltd.’s lower dividend payout is yet another international headache for majority owner Walmart Inc. The South African retailer, controlled by the Bentonville, Arkansas-based global chain, cut its full-year dividend 40 percent, sending the shares as much as 6.7 percent lower. Walmart, which bought a majority stake in Johannesburg-based Massmart in June 2011 for 16.5 billion rand ($1.2 ...

DUBAI / WAM HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, emphasised the importance of the logistics sector as a key driver of economic diversification as highlighted by the 50-Year Charter which outlines the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of ...

Bloomberg Russia’s oil producers cut their output deeper in February as the nation strives to implement an agreement with Opec following criticism that it was moving too slowly. The country produced 43.3 million tons of oil last month, according to preliminary data from the Energy Ministry’s CDU-TEK unit. That’s equivalent to 11.336 million barrels a day, down 82,000 barrels per ...

Ajman / Emirates Business Ajman Free Zone launched a new and innovative mobile app to make business management easier and faster, at an event attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Free Zone. The newly-launched app will reduce the time and effort it takes for business owners to obtain a new licence or to renew a ...

Dubai / WAM Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced ridership of public transit means in Dubai, comprising Metro, Tram, Buses and marine transit modes as well as e-hail vehicles, smart rental cars and taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies), have combined lifted about 589 million riders in 2018. The figure reflects a notable increase from 2017, which amounted to ...

Dubai / WAM The Environmental Compliance Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), carried out a surprise inspection at the Waterfront Market in Dubai. Inspectors seized 1,730 kilograms of fish, issued violation tickets to shop owners, fishermen and fish transporters who contravened the nation’s fisheries regulations, and donated the haul to charities to benefit families in need. ...

ABU DHABI / WAM Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed GoAir’s launch of four new flights between Kannur International Airport, and Abu Dhabi International Airport, connecting the two cities with flights operating every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. GoAir’s inaugural flight from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was received on Saturday, as the Indian subcontinent remains one of the most popular destinations for ...