Mumbai: John Abraham is set to star in and produce a biker film. The untitled film is currently in pre-production and will be directed by Rensil D’Silva. John said the story of the film revolves around motorcycles, his longtime passion, which the actor first showcased onscreen in the 2004 blockbuster “Dhoom”. “I decided to develop a film on riders and their love for motorcycles in-house two years ago. A lot of research and time has been spent on the subject since then. Also Read – I have personal ambitions now: Priyanka “I’m happy to have Ajay Kapoor and Rensil on board for this project. I am especially excited that we will film the action sequences in the Isle of Man, the home of racing on real roads,” the actor said in a statement. D’Silva, who directed 2009 film “Kurbaan”, said directing an adventure film on bikes with John is a dream come true for him. “I’ve grown up on films like ‘Days of Thunder’ and ‘Top Gun’ and it’s a dream come true to make an adrenaline pumping, emotionally charged bike racing film like this with John,” the filmmaker said. Also Read – Salman Khan remembers actor Vinod Khanna Kyta Productions, the banner behind John’s last “Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran” and his upcoming espionage thriller “RAW (Romeo Akbar Walter)”, is attached to co-produce. Ajay Kapoor of the production house said he is excited to collaborate with the actor’s JA Entertainment again. “I know how passionate John is about motorbikes. It has been a pleasure collaborating with him and his production company so far on all our projects, and it will be an absolute treat to see him play a biker now! We look forward to our other collaborations with him in future too,” Kapoor said. Remaining cast of the film is currently being locked and the film go on floors in July.
A fitting tribute to Ghazal legends
Paying homage to ghazal legends, ‘Andaaz-e-Bayaan’ – a concert by composer-singer Shakeel Ahmed will be held at Amaltas Auditorium, India Habitat Centre. The performance will take the audience on a beautiful journey of ghazals where musical legacy of greats like Begum Akhtar, Mehdi Hassan, and Jagjit Singh, will be celebrated in a most scintillating setting. The concert will also feature some of Shakeel Ahmed’s original hits.Towards the middle of the last century, the Ghazal seemed to be sinking into oblivion. Its revival and popularity today is an outcome of the brilliance and talent of a number of individuals. Of these, a few attained legendary status. Also Read – An income drop can harm brainDuring the event, audience will see a performance which emphasises the creativity in each generation and the absolute joy that a live program of Ghazals can be when the singer is a master of the art of Ghazal Gaayaki. Narrative and commentary by Laxmi Shankar Bajpai and Rajesh Badal in conversation with Dr Mridula Tandon will provide brilliant insights into the lives and times of these legendary singers, their struggles and their triumphs Shakeel Ahmed is a new rising star in the ancient tradition of Ghazal Gaayaki. He is an artist who has given performances countrywide and abroad and has carved a niche for himself in the world of music. In an era where fusion and new age music dominate the current Indian music scenario, Shakeel Ahmed is a rare performer who continues to excel and please the connoisseur with his impeccably rendered traditional puritan raga based ‘gayaki’.
Told AB I will hug him if we win Kohli
Kolkata: AB de Villiers was disappointed not to make it to Friday’s game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) which the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won by 10 runs at the Eden Gardens in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), said skipper Virat Kohli on Friday. Kohli scored a brilliant 58-ball 100, his first in IPL 2019, to help his team post 213/4 which the visitors eventually succeeded to defend. It was for the first time in this IPL that de Villiers was not a part of the playing XI. De Villiers, who has been in sublime form while scoring 307 runs, was not 100 per cent fit before the start of the game and Kohli decided to rest him. Thus, the onus was on Kohli to bat through the innings in the absence of their senior batsman. “It was important to bat along when AB is not here, as a senior player. AB was disappointed for not making it for the game tonight and I told him that I’ll give him a hug if we win tonight,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation. Apart from Kohli, Moeen Ali bludgeoned a 28-ball 66 (4×5, 6×6), as the pair added 90 runs for the third wicket off just 43 balls. Marcus Stoinis (17* off 8) also provided a late flourish towards the end as RCB amassed 143 runs in the last 10 overs. “They both showed composure and that’s what you expect from your teammates. Our communication during the second time-out was to get 170-175. We didn’t think we could get 200-plus. It was difficult to put the length balls away,” said Kohli. “Moeen changed the game completely and that allowed me to play my game. Moeen said I am going to go now and I asked him to go for it. He targeted the small boundaries and changed the game in those few overs,” he said while praising Ali. Chasing a stiff 214 for victory, Nitish Rana (79 off 45 not out; 9×4, 4×6) and Andre Russell (65 off 25 balls; 2×4; 9×6) stitched together a 118-run partnership off 48 balls to take the match till the last over. Both of them almost got KKR over the line but Ali managed to defend 24 in the final over. “There’s no point in panicking in these types of situations, you got to leave it to the bowlers to decide what he wants to do. There were few good decisions taken by (Marcus) Stoinis and then Moeen in the end. I think the way Stoinis bowled those two-three dot balls, it was very crucial,” Kohli said of Stoinis’ penultimate over. Kohli also praised Proteas pacer Dale Steyn, who was playing his first match of the season. Steyn removed Chris Lynn and Shubman Gill to leave the hosts reeling at 33 for three in five overs. “Having Dale (Steyn) with his kind of experience gave bowlers like (Navdeep) Saini confidence. Steyn getting those crucial overs was important for us. I think picking wickets in the powerplay is crucial as it sets the tone for the rest of the innings,” he said. RCB, with four points from nine games, are currently placed at the bottom of the table. They will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Shopkeeper asks customer to pay for cigarettes shot at
Gururgam: A shopkeeper was shot at by two unidentified men after he asked for money for giving them cigarettes.The victims who are said to be critical has been admitted in the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the assailants who attacked him have not been identified as of now. The entire incident occurred on Monday night when two people who were on the bike asked for a cigarette from a shop owner. They however became angry when the owner asked for money and after an alteration, they shot him and then fled away from the scene. “We have registered the case under the following sections and begun the search to nab the culprits. There were two people who were involved in the act. We are hoping that the shopkeeper who was injured in the act recovers soon so that he can help us in identifying the culprits,” said a senior police official from Sohan Police. “We are trying to retrieve the CCTV images around the area to see what may have been the real reason of the murder. As per our investigation, there were three masked men who came in the bike surrounded the victim and then shot him dead by firing multiple rounds of bullets,” he added. This is not for the first time when traders have been targetted or even murdered in the outskirts of the city. A sharp rise in the number of attacks on the traders in the outskirts of Gurugram by dreaded gangsters has resulted in the business community protesting on the worsening law and order time and again. The traders have been demanding that is a need for more police vigilance in the outskirts of the city like Sohna, Pataudi and Badshahpur where the rates of crime against the traders are rising rapidly.
Both factions of GJM can field candidates rules Division Bench
Darjeeling: A Division Bench of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court ruled on Wednesday that both the Binay Tamang and Bimal Gurung factions of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha can field candidates for the Darjeeling Assembly by-elections. However, they will have to be fielded as Independent candidates.Incidentally, the Gorkha Janukti Morcha had undergone a split in 2017, with both Bimal Gurung and Binay Tamang claiming stake. Later Anit Thapa, the general secretary of GJM, had filed a writ petition at the single bench of Justice Debangshu Basak in Calcutta High Court. Also Read – Bengal family worships Muslim girl as Goddess Durga in Kumari PujaJustice Basak had ordered the Election Commission of India to decide whose claim was right. “The EC has filed an appeal in the Division Bench of Justice Sanjib banerjee and Justice Shuvra Ghosh, stating that the EC does not have the infrastructure to adjudicate on the matter of registered non-recognised parties that number around 2,500 in India,” stated Saikat Chatterjee, Special Public Prosecutor. Joy Saha, the counsel appearing for Anit Thapa, argued that as per Section 29(A) of the Representation of People’s Act, all registered parties have to hand in names of office bearers and constitution to the EC hence. As the EC has access to such information, it is but apt that they should adjudicate. Also Read – Bengal civic volunteer dies in road mishap on national highway”The appeal was admitted. Though the bench did not give the final order , it ruled that both the Binay Tamang and Bimal Gurung factions can use the name of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha during campaign trail, however the names of the factions have to be specified,” stated Chatterjee. The bench further ruled that candidates fielded by the factions will have to be fielded as Independent candidates. “Symbols used by the GJM in previous elections cannot be used by both the sides and they will have to use the symbols accorded by the EC. As nominations for the by-election will have to filed by April 29 and polling is on May 19, the bench did not give the final order but has given a solution to the impasse for the time being. After the election, the matter will be heard again,” added the Special PP.
Arrangements in place for steady fuel supply in Odisha WB IOC
New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country’s biggest fuel retailer, Friday said it has made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, LPG and jet fuel in Odisha and West Bengal that faced a category-4 cyclone. “In the wake of the cyclone Fani making landfall in Odisha earlier today (Friday), IOC is fully geared up and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply from its locations in Odisha and West Bengal on the east coast,” the company said in a statement. Also Read – Commercial vehicle sales to remain subdued in current fiscal: IcraThe company said its operations are largely normal across the two eastern states and it continues to supply. IOC has close to half of the retail fuel market share across the country. “Adequate stock of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, LPG, kerosene and aviation fuel is available. The Corporation (IOC) is also actively assisting the district administration in evacuation, rescue and relief activities,” the statement said. Cyclone Fani is the worst storm since 2014 and had prompted authorities to shift more than a million people to safer places. IOC is continuing to operate its 15 million tonne per annum capacity refinery at Paradip on Odisha coast. The refinery is designed to withstand cyclones with a speed of over 200 kilometres per hour. Also Read – Ashok Leyland stock tanks over 5 pc as co plans to suspend production for up to 15 days”Considering the onslaught of the cyclonic storm, IOC’s million metric tonnes per annum coastal refinery at Paradip has put in place all precautionary measures and safeguards to protect the people and the plant. All necessary safety measures are in place as per the onsite emergency plan,” it said. “A control room is already in operation to coordinate the preventive and proactive measures.” IOC said refinery operations are running normal, with all units in line and the products being evacuated by the marketing terminal and through pipeline transfer. “Coastal evacuation, however, has been halted, as per plan, due to the cyclone conditions.” CISF personnel and refinery fire and safety team members have been deployed at all strategic locations for monitoring the situation. Measures have also been taken to avoid build-up of excessive water in the refinery area, if any, it said. The refinery, IOC said, is also extending all possible assistance to the district administration by providing essential relief material such as biscuits, milk powder and water pouches and supporting a cyclone centre. It is also arranging transport facilities for the evacuation of people to safer places from the two municipality blocks of Kujang and Paradip in the district.
PAM decides to set up internal front to defend Moroccos territorial
Skhirat – The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) on Saturday announced its decision to set up a front for the defense of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Sahara issue, which will be responsible for mobilizing resources for the defense of the national cause and monitoring the latest developments.The Secretary General of the party, Mustapha Bakouri, who made the announcement at the 16th PAM National Council, held Saturday Skhirat, said that the creation of this body comes after the recent developments in the Sahara, including the continued talks under the auspices of the United Nations.He also recalled the adoption by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council of a new model of integrated regional development for the southern provinces, stressing that these developments require a lot of monitoring and vigilance to protect the territorial integrity of Morocco.
RWB Sends Letter to John Kerry Urging more Freedom of Information
Rabat – Reporters Without Borders has sent a letter via the U.S. Embassy in Morocco urging United States Secretary of State John Kerry to raise a number of concerns about freedom of information in Morocco on his upcoming visit to Rabat.The international organization voiced its concerns about the freedom of information in Morocco highlighting the case of Ali Anouzla, the editor of news website Lakome, who is being prosecuted under an anti-terrorism law for posting a link to a video attributed to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.RWB said in the letter that lack of “freedom of information in Morocco, which ranked 136th out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, is the source of a number of other concerns that require concrete measures by the authorities in order to improve respect for the right to inform and be informed.” The organization stressed the need for legal reforms that would “fully guarantee” the principle of freedom of information. It also regarded the promises of reform announced by Moroccan authorities after the 2011 constitutional referendum to have been “slow to materialize.”Reporters Without Borders underscored the urgent need to eliminate media offences both in the press and penal code.“Media offences urgently need to be decriminalized both in the press code (article 41) and in the penal code (articles 179, 54, 65 and 66), without any resulting increase in the size of fines, which must continue to be proportionate. And the law must clearly and precisely define these offences, especially ‘insults’ and ‘grave insults,’ which are extremely subjective and give the authorities, especially judges, a great deal of scope for arbitrary decisions,” it added.RWB also called for judiciary reform to ensure that judges are independent and that a special law takes primacy over a general law so that no provision in the penal code is applied when a media offence is concerned.It also underlined the need for an independent and transparent mechanism for issuing press cards and accreditation to Moroccan and foreign journalists working for both national and international media.“Neither the issuing nor withdrawal of a press card or accreditation should be the result of an arbitrary political decision. A decision to withdraw should be exceptional and should be taken by court,” highlighted RWB.The international organization stressed the need for independent and transparent mechanisms to allocate direct state subsidies to the media, to allocate state and private-sector advertising, and to regulate or provide for self-regulating of the print and broadcast media.Edited by Elisabeth Myers© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
Prodemocracy students usher in New Year with fresh protests
CAIRO– Students also inaugurated a new protest campaign, dubbed “12Elsobh” (“12am”), which aims to mark midnight each day with shouts and chants against “military rule.”In the early hours of Wednesday, pro-democracy students at Al-Azhar University rang in the New Year with fresh protests outside their dormitory compound in eastern Cairo.According to eyewitnesses, students staged a march in the Nasr City district, chanting slogans against last summer’s ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi by the military. They also shouted slogans against the army and police.Students also inaugurated a new protest campaign, dubbed “12Elsobh” (“12am”), which aims to mark midnight each day with shouts and chants against “military rule.”As the clock struck midnight, scores of students stood on their dormitory balconies and shouted: “Down with military rule!”Since Egypt’s academic year began in September, several universities have been rocked by demonstrations against Morsi’s July 3 ouster.Al-Azhar University – a traditional stronghold of students affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which Morsi hails – has seen the most violent protests, with daily rallies often escalating into violent confrontations between students and police.By Sobhi Mugahed
Casablanca Local Authorities Cancel Beer Festival
Rabat – Amid calls to preserve the Islamic identity of the country, local authorities have decided to cancel Morocco’s first Festival for Alcoholic Beverages, scheduled to take place from October 8 to November 8, in Casablanca.Last week, the Moroccan company “Brasseries du Maroc”, which has been malting and brewing alcoholic beverages by the French enterprise “Brasseries et Glacières Internationales” (BGI Group) since its foundation in 1919, announced the organization of a beer festival in Casablanca.Meanwhile, a press release issued this Monday by the Wilaya of Casablanca said it had contacted “Brasseries du Maroc”and banned the event. The Wilaya also ordered the company to stop the festival’s advertising campaign immediately and remove all posters promoting the event due to non-compliance with regulations and legal procedures.This decision follows requests from groups to ban the festival in order to preserve the Islamic identity of Morocco. The Attawhid wa lIslah movement (Uniqueness and Reform), which is a branch of the Islamist Justice and Development Party that heads the government, has openly opposed the festival.In a press release issued on Sunday, the movement labeled the festival as a “bold step that is incompatible with the country’s Islamic identity and values.”The release stressed that the festival is provocative to Moroccans and pointed out that local authorities, which granted the authorization for the event must be “held responsible.”Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants. It forbids Muslims from drinking or even selling alcohol.The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that makes people intoxicated when consumed is deemed forbidden , both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink, etc.© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission
COP22 International Recognition of Moroccos AntiClimate Change Actions FM
Bonn – The choice of Morocco to host the 22nd Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Marrakech (COP22) is a recognition by the international community of Morocco’s actions to fight climate change, said, on Monday, chairman of the COP22 steering committee and foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar.The choice of Morocco as a host country for the COP22 is not random, it is a recognition by the international community of Morocco’s actions to fight climate change, said Mezouar at the opening of the Bonn Conference marking the 44th session of UNFCCC’s subsidiary bodies SBSTA and SBI, and the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement.This commitment was made at the State’s highest level to ensure that the COP22 takes place in the best conditions, he said, recalling the launch ceremony of the Call of Tangiers “for a solidarity-based, strong action for climate”, which was chaired by HM King Mohammed VI and French president François Hollande. This initiative mirrors the two countries’ resolve to join efforts to help the international community find appropriate answers to the issue of climate change, said Mezouar, stressing that Morocco’s organization of COP22 is in fact an extension of a continuous commitment made by the Kingdom during its organization of COP7 in 2001 in Marrakech.He added that COP22 is meant for the adoption of procedures and mechanisms to activate the Paris Agreement, and of a pre-2020 action plan for mitigation, adaptation, financing, capacity-building, transfer of technology and transparency especially for poor countries.The COP22 will also be an occasion to to agree on a concrete road map to raise 100 billion dollars by the year 2020, he said, noting that Morocco will honor its pledge, in collaboration with France, to get more parties to adhere and ratify the Paris Agreement ahead of the COP22.He also proposed that parties and public and private financial institutions create a “Fast Track Finance Facility”.With MAP
Voters in Rabat Believe Their Vote Can Make a difference
Rabat – Amidst a fierce contest of the second legislative elections, after the constitution reform in 2011 and, today Moroccan citizens are voting for the party that will represent them in government as well as the parliamentarians who will defend their issues in parliament.Meanwhile, Moroccans across the kingdom eagerly await the results.Moroccans took to the pools from 7 A.M. this morning. In Rabat, there are 126 constituents competing for seven seats. The elections this morning in Rabat are well underway, with people taking a break from work to go and cast their vote. This morning, Morocco World News went to some elections station in Salé, near Rabat to ask citizens about their thoughts on the electoral results.Voters believe the election is necessary, and that voting is the means through which change can be made. “I think that this election may bring new changes to Morocco,” A 36-year-old voter told Morocco World News on Friday. A Moroccan woman who just recently started voting mentioned that “her vote has an impact and can help the country to take a step forward.”Today, over 15 million voters are expected to elect a new parliament after the Justice and Development Party (PJD) won the 2011 elections for the first time in its history.The voting will end at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Istiqlal Party Leaders Call on Chabat to Resign
Rabat – A group of leading members of the Istiqlal Party (IP) is calling on current Secretary General Hamid Chabbat to resign from his role as the president of the party.Amid the growing uproar among the members of the IP, a group of leading members of the party, including M’Hamed El Khalifa, Abdelkrim Ghallab,Yasmina Badou, and Taoufik Hjira on Monday visited former IP Secretary General Mhamed Boucetta at his house in Rabat to call for Chabbat’s resignation.As soon as the meeting ended, El Khalifa told Moroccan journalists that “the party members who attended the meeting stressed the need to urge Chabat to submit his resignation following his latest controversial statements against Mauritania.” Earlier this month, Chabat had stated that “Mauritania lays on Moroccan soil and it is a land that is purely Moroccan.” “Chabat should submit his resignation from the party’s general secretariat. The party members do not intend to humiliate Chabat by calling on him to quit the party, but just to resign from his role as the leader of the party,” El Khalifa added.During the meeting, El Khalifa continued, “the party members discussed the situation of the IP in the recent four years,” noting that “the members requested Boucetta to find a solution for the crisis the party is experiencing.”Regarding the party’s December 31 council meeting, a group of members expressed their support for Chabat and referred Karim Ghelab, Yasmina Badou, and Taoufik Hjira to the Committee of Arbitration and Discipline due to their opposition. “The meeting,” says El Khalifa, “was recently held to punish the members [who opposed Chabat].”In a YouTube video published by Le360 last week, Boucetta, who led the IP from 1974 until 1998, called on Chabat “to quit from the position he currently holds as the party leader.”
Federal court blocks San Francisco warning on soda ads
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has blocked a San Francisco law requiring health warnings on advertisements for soda and other sugary drinks in a victory for beverage and retail groups that sued to block the ordinance.The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says in a unanimous ruling Thursday that the law violates constitutionally protected commercial speech.The judges granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the law from taking effect and kicked the case back to a lower court.The American Beverage Association joined retail and advertising groups to sue to block the ordinance.The law is part of an effort to reduce consumption of sweet drinks as a way to combat obesity, diabetes and heart disease.The San Francisco city attorney’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Christopher Weber And Sudhin Thanawala, The Associated Press
Recent FIFA Visit to Morocco was Successful Lekjaa
Rabat – Four FIFA officials paid a two-day visit to Morocco earlier this week to learn more about the country’s assets, including stadiums and accommodations to host the world’s 23rd premier football tournament in 2026.President of Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa told French news agency AFP that the visit was “successful.”More specific details of the visit is have yet to be unveiled. FIFA has sent its Task Force to Morocco on April 16, to evaluate Morocco’s assets to host the World Cup in 2026. After their first visit, the Task Force informed Morocco’s World Cup bid committee of an additional visit to hold talks with Morocco’s officials concerning the country’s hotel capacity and stadiums.Following their first visit, the Task Force told the chairman of the Moroccan committee that the Task Force “expressed their admiration” for the Moroccan bid.In total, the group visited stadiums, training camps, fan sites, and media centers in several Moroccan cities, including Marrakech, Casablanca and AgadirPrior to its visit to Morocco, Lekjaa, expressed his concerns over the Task Force in two letters addressed to FIFA.The first letter was sent on March 25.“To my surprise, the scoring system was finally sent to us on March 14–24 hours before Morocco submitted its file and two days before the deadline for the submission of applications to FIFA,” wrote the FRMF president.On April 3, FIFA responded to convey that the aim of the Task Force is to “determine whether the bids meet the requirements in terms of infrastructure and revenue-cost criteria.”FIFA’s response was not enough to convince Morocco’s FRMF.“We have taken note of your answers, but unfortunately they have not resolved these concerns, and we are still convinced that the scoring system does not comply with the requirements of the bid rules,” Lekjaa told FIFA.Lekjaa continued, saying that Morocco was surprised this measure surfaced only 48 hours before Morocco submitted its bid.
Morocco Arrests Turkish Family with Fake Syrian Passports
Rabat – Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) arrested a Turkish family in possession of six forged passports in the northern coastal city of Nador on Monday.The Turkish family, two parents and four teenaged children, entered the country through Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport with their real passports.However, on their way out of the country, airport security forces discovered six false Syrian passports in their possession. The family is currently being held in custody, pending an investigation by DGSN to determine the story behind their forged passports.Earlier this month, police in Morocco arrested an undocumented Algerian resident in Morocco who, along with another Algerian national, was involved in the premeditated burglary of a hotel room occupied by a Saudi Arabian national in Marrakech.
In Brexit limbo UK veers between high anxiety grim humour
LONDON — It’s said that history often repeats itself — the first time as tragedy, the second as farce. Many Britons feel they are living through both at the same time as their country navigates its way out of the European Union.The government awarded a contract to ship in emergency supplies to a company with no ships. It pledged to replace citizens’ burgundy European passports with proudly British blue ones — and gave the contract to a Franco-Dutch company. It promised to forge trade deals with 73 countries by the end of March, but two years later has only a handful in place (including one with the Faroe Islands).Pretty much everyone in the U.K. agrees that the government’s handling of Brexit has been disastrous. Unfortunately, that’s about the only thing this divided nation can agree on.___Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless . Follow AP’s full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/BrexitJill Lawless, The Associated Press
US retail sales declined 02 per cent in February
WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales fell in February, as consumers pulled back their spending on building materials, groceries, furniture, electronics and clothing declined amid signs of a slowing economy.The Commerce Department said Monday that retail sales fell 0.2 per cent in February, after posting an upwardly revised gain 0.7 per cent in January. Over the past year, retail sales have roughly kept pace with inflation by increasing a slight 2.2 per cent.The recent dip in consumer spending suggests that more Americans are anticipating a weaker economy this year, as global growth has declined and the stimulus from President Donald Trump’s tax cuts at the end of 2017 are waning.Sales at building materials stores plunged 4.4 per cent in February. Electronics retailers and grocers posted declines of more than 1 per cent.Josh Boak, The Associated Press
Boeing Micron Technology fall Sony Fiat Chrysler rise
NEW YORK — Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily on Monday:Boeing Co., down $17.41 to $374.52.The company said it was cutting back production of its 737 Max plane, which has been involved in two fatal crashes in recent weeks.Southwest Airlines Co., down $1.31 to $51.94.The airline was among those affected by the grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max fleet.General Electric Co., down 52 cents to $9.49.JPMorgan analysts said investors are underestimating the severity of the challenges and risks the company faces.Sony Corp., up $3.53 to $46.60.Reuters reported that the hedge fund Third Point was building a stake in the company and will press for changes.Dollar Tree Inc., down $3.55 to $102.44.Investment firm Starboard Value withdrew its nominees for the company’s board of directors.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., up 34 cents to $15.78.The Financial Times reported that the company would pay Tesla to have its cars counted in its fleet to avoid paying fines for breaking emissions rules.Concho Resources Inc., up $2.17 to $112.Energy companies bucked the downward trend and rose as the price of oil resumed its upward climb.Micron Technology Inc., down 42 cents to $42.90.Technology stocks, which are still the best-performing sector so far this year, fell more than the rest of the market.The Associated Press
Toyota SoftBank fund Denso invest 1 billion in Uber
TOKYO — Japan’s top automaker Toyota, auto parts maker Denso and internet company SoftBank’s investment fund are investing $1 billion in car-sharing Uber’s technology unit.The Japanese companies said Friday that Toyota Motor Corp. and Denso Corp. will together invest $667 million and SoftBank Corp.’s Vision Fund will invest $333 million in Uber Technologies Inc.’s new entity, Advanced Technologies Group, or Uber ATG, which will try to develop and commercialize automated ridesharing services.The move comes as Toyota steps up such efforts, including investing $500 million in Uber, based in San Francisco, and setting up a $20 million joint venture with SoftBank to create mobility services, both announced last year.Toyota also promised to contribute up to $300 million more over the next three years for developing next-generation autonomous vehicles and services.The Associated Press