Meta Stock Jumps as AI Cloud Expansion Challenges AWS, Microsoft, and Google 
Northern Star Appoints New CEO as Activist Elliott Pushes for Leadership Overhaul 
Sodexo Raises 2026 Revenue Outlook After Strong Q3 Sales Beat 
Gold Price Holds Above $4,000 as Fed Rate Hike Expectations and U.S. Jobs Data Weigh on Market 
Central Banks Eye Gold, Reduce Dollar Exposure as AI Adoption Accelerates: OMFIF Survey 
Gold Price Hits Annual Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Sticky Inflation Weigh on Bullion 
India Manufacturing PMI Slows in June as Demand Weakens Despite Lower Cost Pressures 
Australia Trade Balance Swings to Surprise Deficit as Imports Outpace Exports in May 
SK Holdings, KKR Launch $1.3B Renewable Energy Venture in South Korea 
Samsung to Invest $90 Billion in South Korea to Expand AI Chip, Display, and Battery Production 
Gold Price Drops to Eight-Month Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion. Source: Photo by Michael Steinberg via Pexels 
Apple Eyes Chinese Memory Chips as AI Shortage Pressures iPhone Supply Chain 
ShareChat Eyes 2027 IPO After Reaching Operational Profitability, Report Says 
South32 Sells Major Aluminium Assets to Alcoa in Deal Worth Up to $5.6 Billion 
Microsoft Reportedly Plans New Job Cuts Across Sales, Consulting, and Xbox 
Buffett Delays Gates Foundation Donation Pending Epstein Ties Review 
Chip Stocks Rally as Samsung and SK Hynix’s $1.3 Trillion Investment Plan Boosts AI Optimism 
McDonald’s Japan is facing issues with the shipping of its supplies, especially the potatoes for its french fries. Because of this, its restaurants decided to cut up the french fries into smaller sizes just to make sure it could still sell the famous side menu to customers.
With this development, customers of McDonald’s Japan will have to put up with the smaller serving of the french fries every time they dine or order for delivery. It was estimated that this practice may continue until February and possibly, the next month after that.
McDonald’s Japan will be limiting the fries from now on and this wall due to the shipping problems it is currently facing. According to Reuters, McDonald’s Holdings Company Japan released a statement last weekend and it outlined the impact of the flood damage Vancouver port on its business.
The fast-food chain also mentioned other disturbances that it has been experiencing since and said this is also another reason for the delays in the shipment of potatoes from North America. Before the flooding, COVID-19 has severely affected shipping operations worldwide. There is also the extreme weather that cuts shipments and many other issues.
With all of these issues, McDonald’s Japan has no other choice but to take out the medium and large-size fries from the menu and slice them to be able to accommodate orders. The company said it would only sell small fries for a month, so all customers could still enjoy the fries despite the supply issue.
Nikkei Asia noted that this is the second time that McDonald’s Japan is restricting the sale of french fries. Last month, the company suspended the sale of french fries for a week due to a shortage. Almost 2,900 restaurant outlets in Japan did not sell any fries at that time.
The potatoes for McDonald’s Japan’s fries are being imported from Canada, and since there is also heavy snowfall and bad weather at sea, shipping was interrupted. The container shortages were also said to have contributed to the crippled shipping operations at the main port of Vancouver.
