SCRANTON — A department store magnate has made a six-figure donation to a northeast Pennsylvania city to make good on a loan tied to a struggling shopping mall.

Al Boscov gave a $715,173 check to Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright on Monday, saying he felt obligated to repay the city even though it wasn't legally required.

Boscov's payment covers the city's $612,480 loan for The Mall at Steamtown plus $102,693 interest.

A Scranton newspaper reported a $1.8 million balance on the city's loan to Steamtown Mall Partners still hasn't been paid back. Boscov is a partner in that firm. Boscov says negotiations continue on the mall's ownership with a bank-affiliated company that acquired it through foreclosure in July from Steamtown Mall Partners.

Boscov's is the mall's lone anchor tenant. The company also has a store at the Clearview Mall.

SAN FRANCISCO — The FBI has confirmed it is investigating a hacking attack at Sony Pictures Entertainment, which caused major internal computer problems at the film studio last week.Sony's corporate e-mail and other internal systems were knocked offline, according to reports by Variety and other trade publications. Sony workers reportedly saw a message appear on their computer screens that said “Hacked by (hash)GOP,” which may be the initials of a group calling itself Guardians of Peace. Copies of some unreleased Sony films such as “Still Alice” and “Annie,” are now being distributed on unauthorized file-sharing websites, but a direct connection to the hacking hasn't been confirmed.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical will spend $3.5 billion in cash to buy Avanir Pharmaceuticals in a deal that expands the Japanese drug maker’s portfolio of neurologic disease treatments. Avanir shareholders will receive $17 per share.Avanir makes Nuedexta, which treats a condition called pseudobulbar affect.The ailment is tied to diseases like multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injuries and involves involuntary emotional outbursts such as laughing or crying.