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Apr92021 by adminNo Comments

Netflix and Sony ink multi-year, licensing deal

Business

April 9 (UPI) -- Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have signed a multi-year, licensing deal in the United States for theatrically released feature films, beginning with the studio's 2022 slate. "Sony Pictures is a great partner and we are thrilled to expand our relationship through this forward-thinking agreement," Scott Stuber, head of global films at Netflix, said in a statement Thursday. "This not only allows us to bring their impressive slate of beloved film franchises and new IP to Netflix in the U.S., but it also establishes a new source of first-run films for Netflix movie lovers worldwide." Advertisement The pact means Netflix will be the first to stream SPE titles such as Morbius, Uncharted, Where the Crawdads Sing and Bullet Train after their theatrical and home entertainm...

Apr92021 by adminNo Comments

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sues federal government over cruise industry shutdown

Business

April 8 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday a lawsuit against the federal government over the cruise industry shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of thousands of Floridians depend on the cruise industry for their jobs, DeSantis said at a news conference at the Port of Miami, where he announced the lawsuit while flanked by cruise employees. Advertisement "So, today's a day for us to fight for them, to fight for our friends and our neighbors, who just want to go back to work," DeSantis said at the press conference. Monica Sebata, a former employee of Cruiseport Destinations in Miami, said cruises were initially ordered to shut down for two weeks in March 2020. At that point, they were able to connect through Zoom, and they had hope things would improve, she said, b...

Apr82021 by adminNo Comments

Prince William: Banks must do more to protect environment

Business

EPAThe Duke of Cambridge has urged banks to "invest in nature" to help fight global climate change. Speaking at an IMF and World Bank meeting, Prince William said protecting nature continued to play only a small part in combating global warming. He said investing in reforestation and sustainable agriculture were "cost effective" ways of tackling the issue. Banks have come under increasing pressure to step up efforts to help fight climate change.Just this week, Barclays' London headquarters was the target of a protest staged by climate activist group Extinction Rebellion. Members held placards and broke several windows as they called on the bank to stop financing fossil fuel companies.Addressing central bankers and finance ministers at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund ...

Apr82021 by adminNo Comments

Co-op to pay bonuses despite withholding £65m in state funds

Business

The Co-op Group is to hand annual bonuses to senior executives despite refusing to repay £65m in business rates relief it received from the government to support it through the pandemic.Sky News can reveal that the mutual's remuneration committee has decided to reward chief executive Steve Murrells and senior colleagues for their work last year - a move that insiders say could spark a fierce backlash from members and employees. The size of the bonuses to be handed to executives will be disclosed in the Co-op's annual report in the coming weeks, and was unclear on Thursday. Image: Tesco led the way in repaying business rates relief Confirming a report by Sky News, the Co-op said it would give back only part of the state support it rece...

Apr72021 by adminNo Comments

S&P 500 barely strikes record high as Federal Reserve commits to economic recovery

Business

April 7 (UPI) -- The S&P 500 scraped its way to a record close on Wednesday in a mixed day of trading as the Federal Reserve indicated it would remain committed to policies supporting economic recovery. The equity benchmark gained 0.15% to a new closing high of 4,079.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 16.02 points, or 0.048%, while the Nasdaq Composite dipped slightly to close down 0.07%. Advertisement Markets reacted to minutes from the Fed's March policy meeting where officials indicated the pace of asset purchases is likely to remain the same as the central bank works toward its economic goals. "Participants noted that it would likely be some time until substantial further progress toward the Committee's maximum-employment and price-stability goals would be realized and that...