Starbucks union plans Red Cup Day strike

 

Starbucks Workers United says baristas will strike on Nov. 13—Red Cup Day—unless a contract is finalized, with actions planned in at least 25 cities. About 550 of 10,000 company-operated U.S. stores are unionized; talks have stalled since leadership changes. Starbucks called the strike plan disappointing and says jobs average more...

Amazon leads retailer price hikes amid tariffs

 

Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are adding costs as inflation lingers, and Amazon has raised prices more than rivals, DataWeave says. Amazon’s online prices rose 12.8% through September, versus 5.5% at Target and 5.3% at Walmart, with Amazon’s sharpest jump, 3.7%, from January to February. Across the three, apparel...

UPS Worldport crash halts sorting causing delays

 

A plane crash at UPS’s Worldport in Louisville killed at least nine people and sparked a large fire, prompting the shipping giant to halt package sorting at its 5.2-million-square-foot air hub. UPS warned of delays to airborne and international deliveries, canceled Second Day Air sorting on Wednesday, and said contingency...

Toyota recalls US vehicles over rear camera issue

 

Toyota is recalling 1,024,407 vehicles in the U.S., covering 2022–2026 Toyota, Lexus and Subaru Solterra models equipped with Panoramic View Monitor systems. A software error can cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen in reverse, reducing the driver’s view and increasing the risk of a crash,...

Louisville UPS MD11 crash highlights aircraft longevity

 

At least nine people died when a 34-year-old UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday evening. There are no initial indications the jet’s age was a factor, underscoring that cargo planes often stay in service for years, with retirements driven more by fuel burn...

Google Epic settlement proposes Android app changes

 

Google and Epic Games have reached a settlement, pending Judge James Donato’s approval, that would reshape Android app distribution worldwide. The deal lowers Play Store fees to capped rates of 20 percent or 9 percent, with an extra 5 percent if Google billing is used, and commits support through June...

Google adds Android plush and colorful merch

 

Google has expanded its merch lineup, adding three items to the Google Store: a $36 12 inch Android Classic Plushie, the same one previously offered via Play Points and on the dedicated merch shop, plus a Search n Stack Game and an espresso cup set in signature red, yellow, green,...

Yum Brands weighs options for Pizza Hut

 

Yum Brands said it will review strategic options for Pizza Hut, citing lagging results that may be better realized outside the company. No deadline was set; possibilities include a divestiture, joint venture or selling a stake. The chain’s same-store sales fell 1% in the third quarter, including a 6% drop...

OpenAI expands cloud options after Microsoft renegotiation

 

OpenAI’s newly renegotiated pact with Microsoft frees it to buy cloud computing on the open market, after years of relying on Microsoft before adding two other cloud providers. The restructuring also allowed OpenAI to create a for-profit arm valued at $500 billion and ink a deal with Amazon, following recent...

Starbucks sells China majority to Boyu Capital

 

Starbucks will sell a majority stake in its 8,000-store China business to Boyu Capital, creating a $4bn joint venture in which Boyu holds up to 60% and Starbucks keeps 40% while licensing its brand. The company values the overall China retail operation at more than $13bn and plans to expand...