Business

The Wall Street Journal reports: Walmart Inc. is ending cigarette sales in some U.S. stores after years of debate within the retail company’s leadership ranks about the sale of tobacco products, according to people familiar with the matter. Cigarettes are being removed in various markets, including some stores in California, Florida, Arkansas and New Mexico. Walmart, which has more than …

The New York Times reports: New Yorkers ordering a ride on the Uber app could choose a yellow taxi under a new partnership between the ride-hail company and two taxi technology companies. The taxi option will begin later this spring and will be available to all Uber riders in New York City, Uber said. Uber riders will pay roughly the …

Reuters reports: Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $275 million to women’s healthcare provider Planned Parenthood, the largest gift from a single donor in the organization’s more than 100-year history, Planned Parenthood said on Wednesday. The donation, which is part of Scott’s pledge to give away the majority of her wealth, was made to Planned Parenthood’s national office and 21 regional …

The Guardian reports: The French carmaker Renault has resumed manufacturing in its plants in Moscow, bucking the trend of many other large global companies that have cut ties with Russia over its war on Ukraine. Renault had suspended production at the plant last month, citing logistical problems after the invasion of Ukraine on Vladimir Putin’s orders. However, Renault’s decision to …

The Associated Press reports: With some workers across the U.S. threatening a walkout Tuesday, The Walt Disney Co. finds itself in a balancing act between the expectations of a diverse workforce and demands from an increasingly polarized, politicized marketplace. One of the organizers of the walkout, a New York-based employee, said they were expecting participation by workers with the “privilege” …

The Verge reports: Early in March, Facebook users got a mysterious, spam-like email titled “Your account requires advanced security from Facebook Protect” and telling them that they were required to turn on the Facebook Protect feature by a certain date, or they would be locked out of their account. It actually wasn’t spam. In fact, it was real. The first …

The BBC reports: The Moscow stock exchange has partially reopened after a nearly month-long suspension over the war in Ukraine. Only bonds issued by the Russian government can be traded as part of a phased re-opening of the market. The exchange closed hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on 24 February. Andrei Braginsky, a …

CNBC reports: More than two dozen U.S. lawmakers received roughly $110,000 in campaign contributions from Koch Industries in the weeks leading up to Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine — money some ethics lawyers say should be returned given the company’s decision to maintain operations in Russia. U.S. lawmakers are being scrutinized for accepting campaigns contributions from the conglomerate, which is …

The Verge reports: PayPal is expanding the services available to its Ukrainian users and waiving fees to help with humanitarian efforts in the country during Russia’s ongoing invasion. According to a news release, Ukrainians will be able to send and receive peer-to-peer PayPal or Xoom payments, and the company won’t apply its normal fees to either side of the transaction. …

Axios reports: Burger King on Friday said that its business partner controlling approximately 800 restaurants in Russia has “refused” to suspend operations in the country. “We contacted the main operator of the business and demanded the suspension of Burger King restaurant operations in Russia. They have refused to do so,” David Shear, the president of Restaurant Brands International, which owns …

The Washington Post reports: McDonald’s is now closed in Russia, part of a wave of companies exiting the country after its invasion of Ukraine sparked sanctions from the West. But a local alternative, Uncle Vanya, appears to be gearing up to take a bite of the Russian burger business — with a strangely familiar logo. Though none of these new …

The Washington Post reports: Koch Industries, the American manufacturing giant that employs 122,000 people across the world, said Wednesday it would not exit its operations in Russia because doing so would put its “employees there at greater risk and do more harm than good.” The multinational conglomerate’s presence in Russia is relatively small, its president and chief operating officer, Dave …

Vice News reports: Former CEO Howard Schultz is back at the helm of Starbucks, after a five-year hiatus, as baristas at more than 140 stores seek to unionize and six locations have won union elections. Kevin Johnson is stepping down as chief executive, and Schultz, the chain’s longtime leader who built the company into the world’s largest chain and has …

Reuters reports: The Ever Forward container ship is still grounded in the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, nearly a year after another ship run by the same company blocked the Suez Canal for six days. The container ship is operated by Evergreen Marine Corp Taiwan Ltd (2603.TW), the same Taiwanese transportation company that operates the …

Gothamist reports: New York lawmakers are pushing back against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to allow restaurants and bars to serve cocktails with takeout and delivery orders. Neither of the legislative budget plans included what Hochul recently called “the most popular item in (her) budget.” The liquor store lobby raised concern over the measure and has not been afraid of letting …

Popular Information reports: Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, has numerous ongoing business operations in Russia. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Koch Industries has given no indications that those business operations have been suspended. On the contrary, the limited public comments made by Koch subsidiaries operating in Russia indicate that their business activities have continued. Guardian …

The Daily Beast reports: Russian prosecutors have issued a stern warning for Western businesses in the country—corporations that leave may be forced to forfeit their remaining assets and businesses who stay can’t criticize the Russian government. The warning claims corporate leaders who do speak out against the government could be arrested. The Wall Street Journal reports that businesses like McDonald’s, …

The Hollywood Reporter reports: Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Chapek apologized to employees at the company for the company’s handling of Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and said that it would be pausing political donations in the state. Chapek also said that the company will be “increasing our support for advocacy groups to combat similar legislation in other states.” …

NBC News reports: New Jersey lawmakers are considering letting the state’s residents pump their own gas for the first time in decades – except hardly anyone actually wants to. Some 73% of Jersey residents said they still want someone to pump their gas for them, according to a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Thursday. Just 22% of respondents said they’d rather …

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis has leveled a scathing attack statement against Disney on the day after the company’s CEO expressed “disappointment” in a controversial bill nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. “How do they possibly explain lining their pockets with their relationship from the Communist Party of China? Because that’s what they do, and they make …