The death knell for malls tolled loudly in the media during the Fourth of July weekend as retailers continue to assess their long-term prognosis from the pandemic damage. More bankruptcies both announced (Lucky Brand) and rumored continue to shake the format. Some coverage of the lackluster mall performance reawakened calls for reuse options for malls … Continue reading Malls Debate Turns To Community Planning Continue Reading
It’s 2020, and nothing fazes people anymore. Almost no one bat an eyelid when the Pentagon released official footage of possible UFO sightings. Nevertheless, interplanetary exchanges are always fun to watch. The latest galactical marvel was spotted and captured a few days ago in Tokyo, Japan, where residents witnessed a massive fireball entering the Earth’s atmosphere … Continue reading Watch: Fireball From Space Stunningly Enters Above Tokyo Into Earth’s Layer Continue Reading
Discover Financial Services has launched a $5 million program targeting Black-owned restaurants. The move comes against the backdrop of the COVID-19 economic crisis and the Black Lives Matter protests that have swept the country. The Riverwood, Illinois company said the move was “an effort to support the restaurant industry as it rebounds” from the pandemic and associated lockdowns. … Continue reading Discover Serves Up $5M To Bolster Black-Owned Restaurants Continue Reading
Dior kicked off Paris Fashion Week with a mystical short film, titled Le Mythe Dior, featuring its Autumn/Winter 2020 haute couture pieces in miniature size. As the coronavirus pandemic has put a pause on physical fashion shows, Dior’s artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri decided to pepper fantasy into its digital showcase. Directed by Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone, … Continue reading Dior Presents Mystical Short Film Featuring Miniatures Of The New Collection Continue Reading
Indonesian payment processor Payfazz has secured $53 million in Series B funding, numerous media outlets reported Monday (July 6). Jakarta-based Payfazz operates through agents — the company’s network consisted of more than a quarter million — who process payments to pay utility bills, buy telephone time and add to mobile wallets, Tech in Asia reported. Indonesia … Continue reading Indonesia’s Payfazz Raises $53M In New Round Continue Reading
A new survey by global outplacement and executive and business coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that 30 percent of companies have cut pay in response to the pandemic, the company announce in a press release. Fifty-five percent of those companies said the pay cuts allowed them to avoid layoffs in the long run. According to the … Continue reading A Third Of US Companies Slashed Worker Pay For Pandemic Continue Reading
In the past two weeks, shopping levels have fallen again as coronavirus cases surge in the United States, CNBC reported. Up until then, retail levels were improving somewhat since the all-time low in April while the country was on lockdown. But customers have begun retreating from retail for the second time due to the increase in cases. … Continue reading Retail Foot Traffic Dips As COVID Cases Rise Continue Reading
There’s still lots of federal cash available for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in need of a hand up through the COVID-19 crisis. In a report released Monday (July 6), the U.S. Treasury Department and Small Business Administration (SBA) indicated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the forgivable loan initiative, still has nearly $132 billion waiting … Continue reading SMBs Come And Get It: $132B Still Available From PPP Continue Reading
Wirecard executive Oliver Bellenhaus, 46, has been arrested in Munich for his alleged central role in the massive worldwide fraud case currently enveloping the company, the Financial Times (FT) reported. Bellenhaus was in charge of Wirecard’s CardSystems Middle East and ran that division primarily from his apartment in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, FT reported. CardSystems … Continue reading Wirecard Exec Who Ran Unit At Heart Of Scandal In Custody In Munich Continue Reading
Progetto Banca Idea (PPI), an Italian challenger set up by two banking veterans, has landed €45 million in a funding round, BeBeez reports. CEO Federico Sforza According ilgiornaleditalia.it, this is the largest first round of funding ever landed by an Italian fintech start-up. Backers include Generali Group, Sella Group, IFIS Group, and ISA, among others. … Continue reading PBI lands €45m & acquires salary-backed loans business Continue Reading