
Business
All the latest news stories about the business world: mergers, IPOs, trends, personalities, and more


Flights to LAX halted due to air traffic controller shortage
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 defense workers on strike in the Midwest turn down latest offer
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.

FBI’s NBA probe puts sports betting businesses in the spotlight
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.

Microsoft Launches Copilot Mode in Edge, Pushing A.I. Browsing into the Mainstream
Microsoft unveiled a new AI-powered Copilot Mode for its Edge browser, creating an intelligent assistant that helps users browse, and summarize tabs.

Meta to Lay Off 600 A.I. Workers as it Restructures Operations
Meta is cutting about 600 employees within its AI unit to streamline operations and reduce overlap.

Big Business This Week: Will more health insurance costs hit business?
At the core of the ongoing government shutdown is a fight over the decision to end subsidies that let some 12 million Americans get health coverage.

Car Loan Delinquencies Surge to Highest Levels in Decades
A growing number of Americans with low credit scores are falling behind on their car payments, underscoring rising financial stress across the U.S. economy.

Tesla’s profit fell in third quarter even as sales rose
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.

Are theme parks determining Disney and Universal’s film slates?
Why would you make a third “Tron” movie? Unless of course you'd spent billions of dollars on a theme park ride and needed to promote it?

Starbucks Introduces AI Barista: A Glimpse Into the Future of Coffee Service
Starbucks’ AI barista aims to speed service and improve experience. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune Business Editor, explains its impact on workers and customers.

Tesla & Big Tech’s Earnings Test: Can Massive AI Bets Finally Deliver Revenue Growth?
As Big Tech reports Q3 earnings, investors await proof that massive AI and cloud investments from Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet are driving real growth.

HBO Max Raises Prices Across All Plans
HBO Max, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, announced a price hike across all subscription tiers, with rates rising by up to $2 per month.

Over 800 Public Figures Urge Ban on AI “Superintelligence” Development
More than 800 prominent figures like Steve Wozniak have joined a public petition calling for a prohibition on the development of AI “superintelligence.”

Warner Bros. Discovery Weighs Sale Amid Increased Interest
Warner Bros. Discovery announced it is expanding its strategic review and is now open to a sale after receiving unsolicited interest from multiple parties.

OpenAI Working with Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA to Combat Deepfakes
OpenAI announced it is working with actor Bryan Cranston, SAG-AFTRA, and major talent agencies to strengthen protections against deepfakes on its AI tool Sora.

OpenAI Launches AI-powered Browser, ChatGPT Atlas
OpenAI is launching ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-driven web browser available globally on macOS, with other platforms coming soon.

Eric Trump on Bitcoin's Future: Inside American Bitcoin’s Strategy for Digital Dominance
Eric Trump joins us to discuss American Bitcoin’s mission, market strategy, and why he believes the U.S. must lead the next era of digital currency innovation.
