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1. US To Investigate Delta Air Lines
The U.S. Transportation Department is opening an investigation into Delta Air Lines as a result of the CrowdStrike global software outage, Reuters reports. Delta has canceled more than 5,000 flights since Friday, significantly more than any other airline.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the investigation is to "ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions."
2. Google Keeps Browser Cookies
Google will no longer terminate third-party cookies on its internet browser Chrome after initially announcing in 2020 it would end support for them in the future, CNBC reports. According to the news outlet, "cookies are small pieces of code that websites deliver to a visitor's browser and stick around as the person visits other sites."
Cookies have been especially useful for digital marketing and advertising, "providing the ability to track users across multiple sites to target ads."
Google initially planned on canceling cookies in early 2022, and as recently as January 2024 remained steadfast in its plans to replace them.
3. More Deals Expected in Second Half of Year
There were fewer U.S. hotel deals than expected in the first half of the year, but the pace of deals has been trending up quarter over quarter, with the potential for a strong second half, HNN's Bryan Wroten reports.
The first quarter saw 66 single-asset sales with pricing in excess of $10 million, totaling about $2.5 billion and 10,700 rooms. In the second quarter, it jumped to 90 individual hotel deals, totaling more than $4 billion and about 14,350 keys.
“I think it's been a little slower than I and many others anticipated,” said Daniel Lesser, president and CEO of LW Hospitality Advisors. “With that said, I think the back half is going to be very robust.”
4. Zero-Hours Contracts Banned in UK
The U.K.'s Employment Rights Bill announced last week includes a ban on zero-hours contracts, which allowed employers to only pay staff when they needed them, the BBC reports. Additionally, bosses will have to provide a reasonable notice with compensation if shifts are changed or canceled.
More than 1 million U.K workers currently have zero-hours contracts, the news outlet reports. Major unions in the country, including Unite and Unison, have supported the bill.
The measure will "make a big difference to the lives of working people," the GMB Union said in a statement.
5. LA Beaches Closed Due to Sewer Spill
Parts of the Dockweiler State Beach and Venice Beach have been closed for more than 48 hours after a sewage spill of about 15,000 gallons entered the Ballona Creek in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, the New York Times reports.
“The cause of the sewage discharge was a broken water main that pushed sand into the sewer, causing the blockage,” the Los Angeles Department of Public Health said in a news release.
This isn't the first time this year that a Los Angeles sewer spill caused beach closings. Back in May, 14,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the same creek.