Author: Isabella Sorvani

Exports Contract Less Than Expected Japan’s exports contracted by 0.1% year on year in August, marking a fourth consecutive month of decline but beating forecasts of a steeper 1.9% drop. The softer contraction followed July’s 2.6% fall and was driven by stronger shipments to Asia and Europe, which helped offset weakness in exports to the United States. Regional Trade Trends Exports to Asia rose 1.7% from a year earlier, while shipments to Western Europe jumped 7.7%. By contrast, exports to the U.S. plunged 13.8%, a sharper fall than July’s 10.1% decline. Autos, historically Japan’s largest export to the U.S., saw…

Broadcast Booth Meets Ownership Tom Brady’s presence in the Las Vegas Raiders’ coaching booth has triggered a debate across the NFL. The seven-time Super Bowl champion is simultaneously Fox’s lead color analyst and a limited partner of the Raiders. This season, he will broadcast games featuring six of the Raiders’ opponents, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. Brady wore a headset during a recent game, listening to in-game communication, sparking concerns that he might gain access to sensitive strategies. NFL and Fox Response Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks declined to address conflict-of-interest concerns, while the NFL issued a statement…

From VR to Glasses Meta will unveil its most advanced smart glasses, codenamed Hypernova, at its Connect event on Wednesday. The $800 device features a small display and gesture control via a neural wristband, marking Meta’s first consumer glasses with a built-in screen. The launch follows years of heavy investment in VR, where adoption has lagged. With Reality Labs reporting nearly $70 billion in losses since 2020, analysts say Meta is pivoting toward a more practical and mass-market bet. Investor Pressure Builds Wall Street has long questioned Reality Labs’ mounting costs. The division posted a $4.53 billion operating loss in…

Major Purchase Signals Confidence Tesla CEO Elon Musk disclosed the purchase of 2.57 million Tesla shares worth about $1 billion, according to a regulatory filing released Monday. The shares were bought Friday at prices ranging from $372.37 to $396.54 each. This marks Musk’s first open-market purchase since 2020 and comes as Tesla pivots toward artificial intelligence, robotaxis, and robotics amid slowing demand in the EV market. Push for Greater Control Musk has repeatedly sought more influence over Tesla, saying he wants at least 25% voting power to continue advancing AI and robotics inside the company. As of December, he controlled…

Criticism of Executive Salaries Pope Leo XIV has spoken out against growing income inequality, highlighting the massive gap between executive compensation and worker pay. In his first media interview, the pontiff singled out Tesla’s trillion-dollar compensation package for Elon Musk, questioning the values behind such wealth. “CEOs that 60 years ago might have been making four to six times more than workers are now making 600 times more,” he said. “If that is the only thing that has value anymore, then we’re in big trouble.” A New Style of Leadership Leo admitted that stepping into his role as pope has…

A Third Leader in One Year France has a new prime minister once again. Sébastien Lecornu, 39, officially took over after François Bayrou was forced out this week amid controversy over a proposed budget squeeze. He becomes the country’s third prime minister in only twelve months, following a period of political crisis and instability under President Emmanuel Macron. Lecornu pledged a “profound break” with past politics and promised humility, though he faces a divided parliament where the left, far right, and centrist blocs have no clear majority. Passing a national budget in the coming weeks will be his first major…

August CPI Report Shows Persistent Price Pressures Inflation accelerated in August, adding pressure to U.S. households and leaving consumer prices well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday that the consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.4% from July and 2.9% year-over-year. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% on the month and 3.1% annually, in line with forecasts. The monthly gain was hotter than economists had expected, though the annual figure matched consensus. The report arrives just days before Fed officials decide whether to cut interest rates at their September meeting. Food…

Quarterback Injury Update The San Francisco 49ers began preparations for their Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints without the expectation of starting quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy is recovering from toe and left shoulder injuries sustained during the second quarter of last Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan described Purdy’s status as a “long shot” for the upcoming game, citing the toe issue as the more serious concern. Week-to-Week Recovery Timeline General manager John Lynch confirmed on KNBR radio that Purdy’s recovery is being treated as a “week-to-week” situation. The assessment was made following consultations…

Spotify has begun rolling out its long-awaited lossless audio feature to Premium subscribers, marking a major upgrade in sound quality for the platform. The launch brings streaming in up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC, giving listeners a chance to experience music in greater detail across millions of tracks. A Highly Anticipated Upgrade For years, Spotify users have requested lossless audio as a way to enhance music discovery and enjoyment. Now, Premium subscribers in select markets are receiving notifications as the feature becomes available. Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify’s VP of Subscriptions, emphasized that the rollout was designed with clarity and ease of use…

Amazon’s driverless car start-up Zoox has launched its first public service in Las Vegas, entering the competitive U.S. robotaxi market alongside Alphabet’s Waymo and Tesla. The move marks a significant milestone in Amazon’s strategy to establish a presence in autonomous mobility, with expansion plans already underway for San Francisco and other U.S. cities. First Public Rollout in Las Vegas Zoox’s launch allows riders to hail its uniquely designed, steering wheel-free vehicles via its app. The service currently operates along the city’s 4.2-mile Strip, connecting popular destinations. Initial rides will be free as Zoox collects feedback and builds user adoption. Chief…