Tag Archives: business

Mall Operator With 100+ Locations Files For Bankruptcy

Bloomberg News reports: Washington Prime Group Inc., a real estate investment trust that operates enclosed malls and strip centers across the U.S., filed for bankruptcy after the Covid-19 pandemic drove away shoppers. The Chapter 11 filing in Houston lets Washington Prime stay in business while it restructures its debts in a deal that it reached with certain creditors, according to …

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Meatpacker Paid $11 Million In Ransomware Attack

Reuters reports: Meatpacker JBS USA paid a ransom equivalent to $11 million following a cyberattack that disrupted its North American and Australian operations, the company’s CEO said in a statement on Wednesday. The subsidiary of Brazilian firm JBS SA halted cattle slaughtering at all of its U.S. plants for a day last week in response to the cyberattack, which threatened …

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1.5M Free Donuts Given In Krispy Kreme’s Vax Promo

The New York Daily News reports: After already giving away more than 1.5 million doughnuts to the inoculated since March, the Winston Salem, North Carolina-headquartered doughnut chain has announced it will double the pleasure during National Doughnut Day. On June 4, Krispy Kreme will give two free doughnuts to Americans who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot – …

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Alex Rodriguez Launches Makeup Line For Men

Page Six reports: Following his breakup with Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez is going for a glow up. The former baseball pro, 45, teamed up with Hims & Hers — the beauty and wellness company in which he and Lopez, 51, became investors together last year — to develop the brand’s first makeup for men. “I wanted to create a product …

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Report: Major Insurer Paid $40M In Ransomware Attack

Bloomberg News reports: CNA Financial Corp., among the largest insurance companies in the U.S., paid $40 million in late March to regain control of its network after a ransomware attack, according to people with knowledge of the attack. The Chicago-based company paid the hackers about two weeks after a trove of company data was stolen, and CNA officials were locked …

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Disney Launches Pride Month “Rainbow Collection”

The Disney Parks Blog reports: Just in time for Pride Month 2021, I’m delighted to announce that fans around the world can showcase their LGBTQ+ pride with all-new bespoke products featuring Disney — and for the first time ever – our other iconic brands as well! From apparel to accessories to pins and plush and so much more, there are …

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Major Companies Push Back Against Texas Voting Bill

The Texas Tribune reports: With less than a month left in the legislative session — and Texas Republicans split on which package of proposals might cross the finish line — Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Unilever, Patagonia and two dozen other companies are urging state lawmakers not to pass new restrictions on voting. In the biggest pushback so far by business against the …

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Venues Turn To Airport App Clear As Vaccine Passport

ABC News reports: Over 60 U.S. stadiums and other venues are deploying an app from Clear to verify people’s COVID-19 status, placing the New York company known for its airport security fast lanes at the forefront of a national debate over “vaccine passports.” As a business based on replacing physical IDs, tickets and credit cards with facial or fingerprint recognition, …

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CEO Fired For Ridiculing Teenage Boy In Prom Dress

Nashville’s ABC News affiliate reports: A CEO who publicly ridiculed a male high school senior who wore a dress to prom with his boyfriend has been fired by his Tennessee company. Cell phone video taken Saturday and posted to several social media platforms shows Dalton Stevens, a senior at Franklin High School, being ridiculed by a man later identified as …

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UK Considers Launch Of Digital Currency: “Britcoin”

The Associate Press reports: British authorities are exploring the possibility of creating a new digital currency that Treasury chief Rishi Sunak [photo] touted as “Britcoin.” The Bank of England and the Treasury said Monday that they will work together to assess the benefits of a central bank digital currency, at a time when cash payments are generally on the decline, …

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Disney Makes Employee Dress Code More “Inclusive”

From the Disney Parks corporate blog: Our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos. We’re updating them to not only remain relevant in today’s workplace, but also enable our cast members to better express their cultures and individuality at work. Moving …

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REPORT: Apple Device Will Enable Video Calls On TVs

Bloomberg News reports: The company is working on a product that would combine an Apple TV set-top box with a HomePod speaker and include a camera for video conferencing through a connected TV and other smart-home functions, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. The device’s other capabilities would include standard …

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NY Budgets $800M For Small Business Rent Grants

Gothamist reports: Restaurants and shops that fell behind on their rent and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be able to apply for additional grants. New York’s new state budget includes $800 million in direct cash assistance for small businesses. State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein [photo] of Manhattan, who had been lobbying for the aid, said the package sets …

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WSJ: Restaurants Facing Shortage Of Ketchup Packets

The Wall Street Journal reports: Supply chain problems are reaching into a far corner of the business universe: Ketchup packets. After enduring a year of closures, employee safety fears and start-stop openings, many American restaurants are now facing a nationwide ketchup shortage. Restaurants are trying to secure the tabletop staple after Covid-19 upended the condiment world order. Managers are using …

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Amazon Sorry For Denying “Peeing In Bottles” Reports

Reuters reports: Amazon.com Inc has apologized to U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, admitting to scoring an “own goal” in its initial denial of his suggestion that its drivers were sometimes forced to urinate in bottles during their delivery rounds. “We know that drivers can and do have trouble finding restrooms because of traffic or sometimes rural routes, and this has been …

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Robotics Firm Unveils Warehouse Worker [VIDEO]

The Verge reports: The robot is called Stretch and looks relatively dull for a Boston Dynamics creation. It’s not modeled after humans or animals, and instead aims to be as practical as possible. It has a square mobile base containing a set of wheels, a “perception mast” with cameras and other sensors, and a huge robotic arm with seven degrees …

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FL Passes Bill To Shield Companies From COVID Suits

NBC News reports: A little more than a year after COVID-19 began wrecking the economy and infecting and killing Floridians, state lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a bill that will shield from coronavirus-related lawsuits businesses ranging from nursing homes to grocery stores to restaurants. The measure, which the House passed in an 83-31 vote, was a top priority …

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Bloomberg: Suez Canal Blockage Costing $400M/Hour

The Week reports: A massive container ship is still stuck in the Suez Canal — and the situation could possibly take “weeks” to resolve. On Tuesday morning, the Ever Given, a cargo ship that’s about a quarter mile long, became stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking shipping traffic. By Friday, it had yet to be successfully moved, and according to …

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Ship Blocking Suez Canal May Take Weeks To Free

Reuters reports: A container ship blocking the Suez Canal like a “beached whale” sent new shockwaves through global trade on Thursday as officials stopped all ships entering the channel and the salvage company said it may take weeks to free. The 400 m (430 yard) Ever Given, almost as long as the Empire State Building is high, is blocking transit …

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Massive Container Ship Currently Blocking Suez Canal First Drew A Dick Pic To Amuse Radar Trackers [VIDEO]

Vice News reports: The Suez Canal has been blocked and a big backlog of ships is building up after a huge container ship ran aground during bad weather. At least eight tug boats and a digger are working to dislodge and refloat the 400m long and 59m wide Ever Given. The container ship, registered in Panama and operated by Taiwanese …

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