Business

The Associated Press reports: China’s government has denounced President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods as blackmail and warned it would respond with “strong countermeasures.” The Commerce Ministry on Tuesday gave no details but said Beijing is ready to “defend the interests of the Chinese people and enterprises.” Trump ordered the U.S. Trade Representative to …

Courthouse News reports: American Airlines agreed to pay $45 million to settle an antitrust class action accusing it of colluding with other domestic airlines to limit capacity and drive up fares, and will cooperate with the federal government as it pursues Delta and United. The Fort Worth-based airline settled under terms of a 20-page memorandum filed late Friday in District …

The New York Times reports: A salmonella outbreak linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal has sickened 73 people in 31 states, according to federal health officials, prompting a recall of some of the product this week. As of Thursday, 24 people had been hospitalized, but no deaths had been reported. Cereal boxes that have a “best if used by” date …

The New York Post reports: Blame America. Canadians have taken to practicing pocketbook diplomacy in defense of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is caught in a trade war of words with President Trump, by boycotting American goods and canceling vacations to the United States, according to a report. Shoppers are shunning Kentucky bourbon, California wine and Florida oranges, and avoiding …

The Los Angeles Times reports: Time Warner Inc. is no more. Late Thursday, AT&T Inc. announced that it completed its $85-billion acquisition of Time Warner Inc., just two days after a federal judge in Washington gave the deal the green light. AT&T wasted little time consolidating its hard-fought prize — a blockbuster purchase that instantly transforms the phone company into …

The New York Times reports: A federal judge on Tuesday approved the blockbuster merger between AT&T and Time Warner, rebuffing the government’s effort to block the $85.4 billion deal, in a decision that is expected to unleash a wave of takeovers in corporate America. The merger would create a media and telecommunications powerhouse, reshaping the landscape of those industries. The …

Arkansas Online reports: Bekaert Corp., Kiswire America and Tokusen USA jointly requested blanket exclusion from what they described as “grade 1078 and above wire rod for tire cord” that they import, arguing that the quality of wire rod they require is unavailable from U.S.-based steel producers. If they can’t get access to the imported steel they need, the companies say …

Indianapolis’ ABC affiliate reports: An Indianapolis CrossFit gym has closed its doors after intense backlash over a canceled pride-themed workout. A note left on the door by the management of CrossFit Infiltrate, located on W. 9th Street along the Indy Canal, says they will “no longer operate” at the current location. Several workers and members have left the gym after …

Via press release from AT&T: As we kick-off Pride Month, AT&T is proud to announce a $1 million donation and a multi-year partnership with The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10 – 24, and LGBTQ youth are almost …

The New York Daily News reports: Kate Spade, a world famous clothing designer, was found dead Tuesday in her Upper East Side home. A housekeeper found the 55-year-old designer in her home on Park Ave. near E. 77th St. at about 10:20 a.m. Spade had hung herself, police sources said. Kate Spade New York has more than 140 retail shops …

The Washington Post reports: Howard Schultz, who built the coffee chain into a global giant, is leaving the company, where he previously served as chief executive. He has been an outspoken leader on civic issues, and this move has reignited speculation that he might plan a run for political office. Starbucks recently has been embroiled in controversy over the arrest …

The BBC reports: Customers across the UK and Europe have been unable to pay for their purchases with Visa cards because of a network failure. Some shoppers reported they were stuck in queues in supermarkets and petrol stations as Visa transactions could not be processed. Banks have advised customers that they can still withdraw cash from ATMs. Visa says it …

NPR reports: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his government “cannot accept” new U.S. tariffs on imported automobiles, as is reportedly being considered as a possible next move by the White House. President Trump last week launched an investigation into whether auto imports posed a national security risk to the U.S., a justification that might be used to raise the …

CNBC reports: The United States is likely to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the EU Thursday, according to a source familiar with the decision. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, said the tariff decision is coming this morning and is “99.9” percent done. The U.S. expects the EU …

CNBC reports: President Donald Trump is preparing to impose a total ban on German luxury carmakers from the U.S. market, according to an exclusive report by German magazine WirtschaftsWoche. Citing several unnamed U.S. and European diplomats, the weekly business magazine reported that Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron last month he would maintain his trade policy with the aim of …

Bloomberg reports: Walmart Inc. will fund college degrees for its U.S. workforce, the latest benefit rolled out by the nation’s largest private employer to reduce turnover and counter criticism over its treatment of staff. The retailer’s 1.5 million employees can now pursue associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in business or supply-chain management at three nonprofit schools for $1 a day, according …

USA Today reports: Starbucks will attempt a dramatic move toward racial reconciliation Tuesday as it closes 8,000 stores across the nation for an afternoon of anti-bias training. Up to 180,000 employees at Starbucks stores and at its headquarters will receive training from a “tool kit” that will “focus on understanding prejudice and the history of public accommodations in the United …

Publix can’t catch a break lately: A Christian homeschool grad was “humiliated” when a cake for his big day turned up with the phrase “Summa — Laude Class of 2018” thanks to a computer system that deemed “cum” a vulgar word. Cara Koscinski didn’t think twice after placing the online order for the $70 cake from her local Publix supermarket. …

Leading economic indicator? New York’s Fox affiliate reports: With the summer travel season fast approaching, gas prices are on the rise but some people are getting sticker shock in Manhattan. Regular gas has hit $5 a gallon at at least one station. A Mobil station on 11th Ave. in Hell’s Kitchen has raised its prices to $4.999 a gallon. Across …

Bloomberg reports: Automakers urged the White House to cooperate with California officials in a coming rewrite of vehicle efficiency standards, saying “climate change is real.” The plea came in a letter to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the industry’s leading trade group. It said carmakers “strongly support” continued alignment between federal …