Business news in brief

In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Interior Department plans to spend $4 million in the section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where petroleum drilling may be allowed.  (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP, File)
In this undated file photo provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an airplane flies over caribou from the Porcupine Caribou Herd on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Interior Department plans to spend $4 million in the section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where petroleum drilling may be allowed. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via AP, File)

Facebook confirms sharing users' data

SAN FRANCISCO -- Facebook shared personal information culled from its users' profiles with other companies after the date when executives have said the social network prevented third-party developers from gaining access to the data, the company confirmed Friday.

The records included information about the friends of Facebook users, including phone numbers and breakdowns analyzing the degrees of separation between people on the social networks, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Facebook confirmed the report, acknowledging the information was given to a "small number" of companies including RBC Capital Markets and Nissan Motor Co., advertisers and other business partners.

The companies had access to the data during a stretch of time in 2015 after Facebook had locked out most developers who build apps that work on its social network. Facebook gave select "whitelisted" companies extensions before they were also blocked from getting its users' personal information.

Those extensions expired before the end of 2015, Facebook said. The company believes the previously unreported extensions with a select group of companies is consistent with previous statements that Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has made, including in testimony to Congress, about shielding its users' personal information from third parties since 2015.

-- The Associated Press

Kia recalling 500,000 cars for air bags

DETROIT -- Kia is recalling more than a half-million vehicles in the U.S. because the air bags may not work in a crash.

Combined with a previous recall expansion by Hyundai, the affiliated automakers are recalling nearly 1.1 million vehicles due to the problem, which has been linked to four deaths.

The moves by both Korean automakers came after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the problems in March. The safety agency said at the time it had reports of six front-end crashes with significant damage to the cars. Four people died and six were injured.

Vehicles covered by the Kia recall include 2010 through 2013 Forte compact cars and 2011 through 2013 Optima midsize cars. Also covered are Optima Hybrid and Sedona minivans from 2011 and 2012.

In April, Hyundai expanded a recall from earlier in the year to 580,000 vehicles. Those include the 2011 through 2013 Sonata midsize car and the 2011 and 2012 Sonata Hybrid. Hyundai says the recall now includes all vehicles with the same air bag computers.

Both automakers say they're working on a fix. Kia said it would notify owners by July 27, while Hyundai said its notification runs from April 20 to June 15.

Both Hyundai and Kia will offer loaner vehicles to owners who request them.

-- The Associated Press

5 Tyson workers sue, claim harassment

Five former plant workers sued Tyson Foods Inc. on Friday, accusing the meatpacker of retaliation after they made harassment claims against the company.

The plaintiffs filed a 33-page complaint in Nashville, Tenn. According to court documents, they experienced varying degrees of discrimination and harassment at work due to their race, religion, age and disabilities.

After reporting complaints to supervisors, they allege that Tyson management at a plant in Goodlettsville, Tenn., retaliated against them by demotion, termination or "making their work conditions so intolerable that any reasonable person would resign."

Some never received pay raises their white co-workers would receive, the lawsuit says. Others were ridiculed as a "form of intimidation to discourage employees from taking prayer breaks," the suit says. One plaintiff alleged that his manager dumped a trash can on his workspace.

-- Nathan Owens

Verizon names top tech officer as CEO

NEW YORK -- Verizon announced Friday that it is tapping a technology expert and recent newcomer to replace its longtime chief executive, who is retiring later this year.

Hans Vestberg, the company's top technology officer, will take the reins starting in August. The current chief executive of seven years, Lowell McAdam, 64, will stay on as executive chairman through the end of the year.

Vestberg, 52, joined the wireless provider last year and has been working on Verizon's networks, including the 4G LTE network. Before joining Verizon, he worked at the networking and telecommunications company Ericsson, where he served six years as chief executive and president and also was chief financial officer.

Verizon tapped a technology expert as it races against other wireless carriers to develop a 5G network that would deliver faster speeds.

One of the most notable deals Verizon completed under McAdam was the $130 billion buyout of Vodafone's wireless business in 2014. Under McAdam's leadership, Verizon also acquired Yahoo and AOL.

-- The Washington Post

U.S. to spend $4M to aid Alaska drilling

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Interior Department announced Thursday it will spend $4 million on construction to support petroleum drilling within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in a release announced $50 million in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service construction projects to repair and rehabilitate aging wildlife refuge and fish hatchery infrastructure at refuges throughout the country.

The construction money includes nearly $5.9 million for Alaska, with two-thirds targeted to support "heightened levels of activity" connected to preparing for oil exploration in the Arctic refuge.

The money will pay for six projects designed to improve or construct existing outbuildings and facilities needed for "oil exploration readiness and research operations."

Environmental groups and Alaska Natives who hunt for migrating caribou south of the refuge strongly oppose drilling. The refuge is home to polar bears and the nesting grounds for migratory birds from all 50 states.

-- The Associated Press

Business on 06/09/2018

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