Disney CEO Bob Iger has announced plans to lay off 7,000 workers as part of a companywide effort to reduce costs. There has been speculation about the cuts since Iger returned as CEO last November to take over from Bob Chapek, who had lost the faith of many shareholders. The entertainment giant has faced multiple economic challenges, and Iger took over with a mandate to shake up the organization. Along those lines, Disney is also restructuring itself into three divisions: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and a Parks, Experiences and Products unit.
TWITTER GLITCH
Twitter experienced a series of technical glitches on Wednesday that cut some users off from their direct messages and forced others to schedule their tweets to post. CEO Elon Musk soon acknowledged the issues, but was fairly vague about their cause, saying there were "multiple internal & external issues simultaneously." As of Thursday, the problems appear resolved, but the incident has stoked fears that Musk's recent firings have left Twitter without necessary resources.
NETFLIX PASSWORD RULES
Netflix has finally revealed its new password sharing rules, laying the groundwork for the end of an era for many streaming users. The company said more than 100 million households share accounts globally, but many are confused about who can (and cannot) share. Users in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain will see changes first. Here's a quick breakdown of how it will work:
BED BATH & BEYOND CLOSURES
Embattled retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has announced it's closing 149 stores just one week after shutting down 87 other locations. The company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and is pulling out all the stops to stay solvent, including seeking additional capital and paring down its operations. The chain's total number of stores has fallen from 760 to 360.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
Tesla, the car company run by Elon Musk, reported Wednesday that it sold more vehicles in the past three months after boycotts hit hard earlier this year, but profits still fell sharply. Third-quarter earnings fell to $1.4 billion, from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Excluding charges, per share profit of 50 cents came in below analysts' estimate. Tesla shares fell 3.5% in after-hours trading. Musk said the company's robotaxi service, which is available in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, will roll out to as many as 10 other metro areas by the end of the year.
Starbucks’ AI barista aims to speed service and improve experience. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune Business Editor, explains its impact on workers and customers.
