Bloomberg Gap Inc, the biggest US apparel-focused retailer, posted June sales that topped analysts’ estimates, a sign the company’s long-promised turnaround could be taking hold. Total same-store sales, a key benchmark, rose 2 percent in June, the San Francisco-based retailer said in a statement. Analysts had predicted a 3.6 percent decline, according to estimates compiled by Retail Metrics. The ...

  Bloomberg UK retailers had their worst June in a decade as consumers reined in spending ahead of the country’s European Union referendum, according to figures from accounting firm BDO. Sales at stores open at least a year fell 3.6 percent last month, with weekly figures deteriorating progressively, BDO research showed. A separate report from researcher GfK showed UK consumer ...

  Relaxnews With the summer getaway just around the corner, Booking.com has given a selection of great destinations for families thinking of heading to Asia and Oceania. Here’s some food for thought for families still in search of the ideal vacation location. The accommodation booking giant has delved into its 91 million user reviews, gauging the opinion of experienced family ...

  Our Correspondent EMIRATES BUSINESS Aramex is a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions. Established in 1982 as an express operator, the company rapidly evolved into a global brand recognised for its customised services and innovative multi-product offering. Traded on the NASDAQ from 1997 to 2002, Aramex today is a publicly traded company on the Dubai Financial ...

  Our Correspondent EMIRATES BUSINESS SMRT International Pte Ltd (SMRT International) and United Technical Services (UTS) announced their investments in 2 Getthere Holding BV (2getthere), a Netherlands-based company that designs and makes a family of Automated Vehicles (AV). SMRT International is acquiring a 20 percent stake worth €4 million (AED 16.3 million) in 2getthere, while UTS is increasing its holding ...

  London / AFP The British government on Saturday formally rejected a petition signed by more than 4.125 million people calling for a second referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. “We the undersigned call upon HM (Her Majesty’s) government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60 percent based a turnout less ...

  DUBAI / WAM Dubai Police processed 198,550 online transactions on its smartphone app since the beginning of this year. The app “Dubai Police” has been downloaded 1,372,762 times on android and iOS-powered devices, Brigadier Khalid Al Razouki, Director of Smart-Services at Dubai Police General HQ, said. He noted that the number of downloads was rising due to the launch ...

  Istanbul / AFP The first Russian flight carrying package tourists to Turkey since a diplomatic crisis erupted eight months ago landed on Saturday in the Turkish Mediterranean resort of Antalya. The Rossiya Airlines plane touched down at Antalya’s international airport at around 0730 GMT, after President Vladimir Putin last month officially lifted restrictions on tourism to Turkey. The Boeing ...

  New Delhi / AFP India’s peaceful tourist hotspot Kerala has become the first state in the country to impose a “fat tax” on junk food in a bid to counter rising obesity. The state’s finance minister Thomas Isaac announced a 14.5 percent tax on food including burgers, pizzas and sandwiches sold at restaurants and fast-food chains, as part of ...

  DUBLIN / WAM With salaries and job opportunities falling at home, dozens of Irish teachers are heading to the UAE next month to take up posts in primary and secondary schools, according to a report on Saturday in the Irish Independent newspaper. “A sense of adventure is the attraction for some, with others viewing the opportunity as a chance ...