Shop owners of a 70-year-old "takoyaki", or octopus balls, restaurant chat while cooking along a street in the Taito Ward area of Tokyo on February 21, 2025.Japan's headline inflation rate fell to 1.5% in January, its lowest level since March 2022. The reading ended a run of 45 straight months in which inflation had remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target.Core inflation rate, which excludes fresh food prices, eased to 2%, the lowest level since January 2024 and matching the 2% forecast by economists po ...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary holds up a study from The Lancet during an announcement of the FDA’s intent to phase out the use of petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the nation’s food supply during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzElizabeth Frantz | ReutersA version of this article first appeared in CNBC's Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news s ...

Canadian filmmaker James Cameron poses during a photocall for the opening of the exhibition entitled 'The Art of James Cameron' at the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris on April 3, 2024.Legendary "Titanic" director James Cameron is likening the theatrical experience to a "sinking ship" if Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery's film studio. Cameron penned a letter to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, last week, which was obtained by CNBC, in which he argues Netflix's proposed acquisition of WBD's studio and streaming ...

Core Insights - Walmart's fourth-quarter earnings were positively impacted by digital advertising and its third-party marketplace, highlighting its focus on higher-margin businesses beyond traditional retail [1] - Walmart's market value recently surpassed $1 trillion, a significant milestone achieved through a 21% increase over the past year, positioning itself similarly to tech companies like Amazon [2] - Walmart's revenue for the most recent fiscal year was reported at $713.2 billion, just shy of Amazon's $716.9 billion, marking a shift in the competitive landscape as Amazon overtook Walmart in annual revenue for the first time [6] Digital Strategy and AI Integration - Walmart's digital business grew by 27% in the U.S. during the fiscal fourth quarter, benefiting from its extensive store network of over 4,600 Walmart stores and approximately 600 Sam's Club locations [3] - The retailer is actively expanding its third-party marketplace in response to Amazon's dominance, while also exploring new frontiers in AI to enhance efficiency and customer appeal [7] - Walmart has partnered with OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini to improve product discoverability, and has introduced its own AI shopping assistant, Sparky, which has led to a 35% increase in average order value for users [8][9] Competitive Landscape - The rivalry between Walmart and Amazon is intensifying as both companies adapt to changing consumer preferences and the rise of AI in retail [5] - Amazon's diverse revenue streams, including cloud computing and advertising, have contributed to its growth, with third-party seller services accounting for 24% of its total sales in 2025 [4] - Amazon has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, planning to spend up to $200 billion this year on AI initiatives, while also developing its own shopping assistant, Rufus, which has generated nearly $12 billion in incremental annualized sales [15][16]

Waymo autonomous taxis turns onto Post Street in San Francisco, California, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has pulled a proposal that would have allowed commercial robotaxi services, like Alphabet's Waymo, to start in some parts of the state, according to her office."Based on conversations with stakeholders, including the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal," Sean Butler, a spokesperson for the governor, said in a statement.Hochul's r ...

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. President Donald Trump is considering military action against Iran, with a decision expected within the next 10 days, which has implications for oil prices and geopolitical stability [1][2] Oil Market Impact - U.S. crude oil prices increased by $1.58, or 2.42%, reaching $66.77 per barrel, while global benchmark Brent rose by $1.56, or 2.22%, to $71.91 [1] - Oil prices have been rising due to fears of an imminent U.S. attack on Iran, with WTI up 6% this week and 16% year-to-date [2]

Shares of Figma traded higher on Thursday, but were well short of the initial surge following earnings.The stock was up by as much as 15% after the bell on Wednesday, when the design software maker reported fourth-quarter results that beat analysts' expectations and offered rosy guidance.Figma's revenue grew 40% year over year to $303.8 million during the period. It reported a net loss of $226.6 million, or 44 cents per share, compared with net income of $33.1 million, or 15 cents per share, in the fourth q ...

Core Viewpoint - Accenture has implemented a policy requiring senior staff to regularly use AI tools to be eligible for promotions to leadership roles [1][2]. Group 1: Policy Implementation - Senior staff, including associate directors and senior managers, must adopt AI tools regularly to progress in their careers [1]. - The policy was communicated through an internal email, confirming its necessity for leadership advancement [2]. Group 2: Company Strategy - Accenture aims to be the "reinvention partner of choice" for clients, emphasizing the importance of adopting the latest technologies to enhance client service [2]. - The spokesperson highlighted that the strategy focuses on being client-focused and AI-enabled, creating a great workplace environment [2]. Group 3: Scope of Policy - The policy does not apply to Accenture staff in 12 European countries or those working in divisions handling U.S. government contracts [3].

Core Viewpoint - West Virginia's attorney general has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of failing to prevent child sexual abuse materials from being stored and shared via its iOS devices and iCloud services [1] Group 1: Allegations Against Apple - The attorney general, John "JB" McCuskey, claims that Apple prioritizes its privacy branding and business interests over child safety [1] - Other major tech companies, such as Google, Microsoft, and Dropbox, have been more proactive in combating child sexual abuse materials using systems like PhotoDNA [1] Group 2: Technology and Features - PhotoDNA, developed by Microsoft and Dartmouth College in 2009, uses hashing and matching to automatically identify and block child sexual abuse material images that have been reported to authorities [2] - In 2021, Apple tested its own CSAM-detection features aimed at automatically finding and removing images of child exploitation and reporting them to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children [2] Group 3: Response to Criticism - Apple withdrew its plans for CSAM-detection features after privacy advocates raised concerns that the technology could create a backdoor for government surveillance and be misused to censor other content on iOS devices [3] - The company's subsequent efforts have not satisfied a wide range of critics [3]

Core Viewpoint - Doordash's stock experienced a rally despite disappointing fourth-quarter results, as Wall Street recognized early progress in the company's investment cycle [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - The company reported earnings that fell short of Wall Street's expectations on both revenue and profit, leading to an initial drop of about 10% in shares during extended trading [1]. - Doordash anticipates a $20 million impact from recent U.S. winter storms and increased order costs due to investments in longer-distance deliveries and cost increases in regulated markets [2]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The company is expected to continue investing in Deliveroo, the British delivery platform acquired last year, which is projected to negatively impact adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter [2]. - Analysts noted that Doordash's investments are beginning to show signs of early payoff, contributing to a positive outlook despite the subpar results [2]. Group 3: Analyst Insights - Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak highlighted that Doordash's businesses are strong and accelerating, with improving unit economics that support durable growth and further investment [3].