Party City to close its stores as company files for bankruptcy LOS ANGELES (AP) — Party City announced that it's going to “wind down” its retail and wholesale operations as it prepares to shutter nearly 700 stores nationwide. The company said Saturday it has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection "to maximize value for the benefit of the company’s stakeholders.” The New Jersey-based retailer said it will keep more than 95% of its 12,000 employees to help with the process of closing down. Customers have flocked to Party City for Halloween costumes, favors for children’s birthday parties and decorations for New Year’s Eve celebrations for nearly 40 years. It has faced growing competition from Walmart and Target and from occasion-based pop-up stores such as Spirit Halloween. A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check. Most people shouldn't get their hopes up about receiving the cash. The IRS says it’s distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns after missing one of the COVID stimulus payments or receiving less than the full amount. The IRS says most taxpayers eligible for the federal stimulus payments received them. Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter and was eventually intended to replace it. While this is still very much a pie in the sky, Bluesky’s growth trajectory could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. With growth, though, comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales. Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it Amazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Strikes during busy periods like the holidays can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or garner support from sympathetic consumers. One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands are fighting for their first contracts after several locations voted to unionize. Farmers are still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South LYONS, Ga. (AP) — Farmers in Georgia are still reeling more than two months after Hurricane Helene blew away cotton, destroyed ripened squash and cucumbers and uprooted pecan trees and timber. Agribusinesses in other Southern states saw costly damage as well. The University of Georgia estimates the September storm inflicted $5.5 billion in direct losses and indirect costs in Georgia alone. In rural Toombs County, Chris Hopkins just finished harvesting his ravaged cotton crop and figures he lost half of it, costing him about $430,000. Poultry grower Jeffrey Pridgen in Georgia's Coffee County had four of his 12 chicken houses destroyed and others badly damaged. Farmers say more government disaster assistance is needed. Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. But he grew disillusioned with the company and told The Associated Press this fall he would “try to testify” in copyright infringement cases against it. Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last month WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve barely rose last month in a sign that price pressures cooled after two months of sharp gains. Prices rose just 0.1% from October to November. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices also ticked up just 0.1%, after two months of outsize 0.3% gains. The milder inflation figures arrived two days after Federal Reserve officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, rocked financial markets by revealing that they now expect to cut their key interest rate just two times in 2025, down from four in their previous estimate. Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s prime minister says the government will shut down video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Albanian authorities held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents following the stabbing death of a teenager in mid-November by another teenager following a quarrel that started on TikTok. Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, said TikTok “would be fully closed for all. ... There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania.” Rama says the ban will begin sometime next year. Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to domestic researchers. Stock market today: Wall Street rises to turn a dismal week into just a bad one NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to turn what would have been one of the market’s worst weeks of the year into just a pretty bad one. The S&P 500 rallied 1.1% Friday to shave its loss for the week down to 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped nearly 500 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. A report said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than expected. It’s an encouraging signal after the Fed shocked markets Wednesday by saying worries about inflation could keep it from cutting interest rates in 2025 as much as earlier thought.
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Folk Maritime Services Company, a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company and emerging leader in regional liner and feeder services, has finalized a strategic agreement with Shanghai CIMC Yangshan Logistics Equipment for the order of 5,600 state-of-the-art shipping containers. The agreement outlines the procurement of 4,500 20-foot general-purpose containers and 1,100 40-foot high-cube containers. Each unit is fully recyclable, reflecting Folk Maritime’s commitment to environmental responsibility and supporting the Kingdom’s journey toward a more sustainable future. The containers are equipped with advanced technologies, including the latest IoT monitoring technology, which Folk Maritime plans to fit fleet wide to its dry boxes. The integration of cutting-edge technology solutions will transform operational efficiency and security by providing real-time location updates, enabling precision route optimization across trade corridors and reducing delays. Geofencing and tamper detection prevents unauthorized access while ensuring cargo integrity. Folk Maritime CEO, Poul Hestbaek, emphasized the significance of the acquisition, saying, “This investment is an important milestone for Folk Maritime as we expand our container fleet and solidify our position as a key player in Saudi Arabia’s logistics infrastructure. The first owned containers, branded by Folk Maritime will enable us to better service the trade and directly support exporters and importers in the region. With this fleet, we are giving cargo owners real time visibility and enhancing operational efficiency. By offering our own containers to meet the needs of our clients, we not only provide end-to-end shipment solutions but also build direct relationships with cargo owners in the region. Our efforts are moving Saudi Arabia closer to becoming a world-leading logistics hub, aligning with the nation’s Vision 2030.” Mohammed Badawi, COO of Folk Maritime added, “This bold step reflects our strategic vision and commitment to growth. By investing in a modern, state-of-the-art container fleet, we are enhancing our operational capabilities as well as, reinforcing our ability to deliver efficient, sustainable, and innovative solutions to our clients. These advanced containers, equipped with cutting-edge technology, will ensure greater supply chain feasibility, optimization, and reliability, aligning perfectly with our goal of driving regional trade. This milestone marks a major leap forward as we solidify our position as a growing regional leader in maritime logistics.” Each container is designed to meet the rigorous demands of international shipping, optimizing cargo capacity and facilitating efficient transport. Featuring durable bamboo-wood flooring for extended lifespan, the fleet is custom-branded with Folk Maritime’s logo. Furthermore, every unit undergoes inspection and certification by globally recognized classification societies to guarantee adherence to the highest standards of quality and reliability. The containers will serve to strengthen key trade routes, including bilateral corridors with India and other global markets, fostering smoother and more efficient export-import operations. To ensure operational readiness and facilitate a seamless integration into Folk Maritime’s expanding operations, the containers will be delivered in batches, over the coming months. The containers will be strategically deployed across critical trade corridors, amplifying Folk Maritime’s ability to meet the growing demands of international commerce while contributing to the Kingdom’s vision of becoming a premier logistics hub. Source: Folk Maritime
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A video that went viral on social media showing a mother squirting dish soap into her infant’s mouth has led to the woman’s arrest, Ohio police and local news outlets reported. The 20-year-old woman was charged with domestic violence and endangering children on Dec. 17, according to court records. Her attorney information was not listed. McClatchy News is not naming the mother to protect the identity of the child. Court documents said the video showed the Loveland mother spitting in the child’s face and pushing the child’s head, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The mother also squirted “ dish detergent ” in the child’s mouth, according to documents reported by the Enquirer. The mother reportedly sent the videos to the child’s father, court documents said according to WKRC. The video led to an investigation involving Child Protective Services , police told WXIX. The woman was released following her Dec. 20 court appearance and is on house arrest, according to the Enquirer. The mother is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 6, according to WXIX. Loveland is about a 25-mile drive northeast from Cincinnati. If you suspect a child has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, your first step should be to contact the appropriate agency. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a list of state agencies you can contact. Find help specific to your area here. For additional help, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline has professional crisis counselors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. You can call or text 1-800-422-4453 . If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please call 911 for help.
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