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NEW YORK — Alphabet Inc. Class C shares edged higher in morning trading Tuesday, climbing 0.26% to $336.28 as Wall Street prepared for the tech giant’s first-quarter 2026 earnings report scheduled for April 29, with focus on Google Cloud growth, AI advancements and the impact of massive capital spending plans.

At 10:25 a.m. EDT, GOOG stock had gained $0.89 from the previous session amid generally positive sentiment across major indexes. The modest advance followed a period of volatility in which Alphabet shares have recovered from earlier 2026 dips while trading well below their February peak near $343. The stock closed Monday around $335.40 after pulling back from recent highs.

The early move reflected cautious optimism ahead of earnings. Analysts expect Alphabet to report revenue near $106.9 billion for the quarter ended March 31, up roughly 18% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings per share around $2.62 to $2.65. The figures would mark continued top-line strength driven primarily by advertising and cloud computing, even as elevated capital expenditures weigh on near-term margins.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has aggressively invested in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company guided earlier in the year for 2026 capital spending between $175 billion and $185 billion — potentially nearly doubling prior levels — to support data center expansion, custom AI chips and cloud capacity. This spending ramp has raised concerns about margin pressure and free cash flow in the short term, but many investors view it as necessary to maintain competitiveness against rivals like Microsoft and Amazon in the AI race.

Google Cloud has been a standout performer, with recent quarters showing revenue growth exceeding 40% and accelerating toward 50% in some estimates. The segment benefits from demand for AI training and inference workloads, where Google’s custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and partnerships play a key role. On April 20, reports highlighted Google’s push into AI inference chips, aiming to challenge Nvidia’s dominance in the fast-growing category for running trained AI models.

Search advertising, Alphabet’s core business, remains resilient despite ongoing shifts toward AI-powered experiences. Gemini, Google’s family of large language models, continues to integrate across products, with updates enhancing search, YouTube and productivity tools. The company has emphasized a balanced approach combining its own AI models with hardware and cloud services.

Other business segments, including YouTube and subscriptions, provide additional growth levers. YouTube advertising has shown strength, while subscriptions to YouTube Premium and other services contribute higher-margin recurring revenue. Smaller “Other Bets” units, such as Waymo autonomous vehicles, have seen progress but still represent a small portion of overall results.

The upcoming earnings report on April 29 will mark the first quarterly update under continued leadership from CEO Sundar Pichai. Investors will scrutinize commentary on AI return on investment, cloud customer wins, advertising trends and any updates to full-year guidance. The earnings call is set for 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Antitrust matters continue to loom in the background. The U.S. Department of Justice has pursued cases against Google’s search dominance, though appeals and ongoing litigation create uncertainty. Alphabet has maintained that its innovations benefit consumers while defending its business practices.

Geopolitical and macroeconomic factors added nuance to Tuesday’s trading. Lingering tensions in the Middle East have influenced energy markets, but Alphabet’s diversified revenue base and strong balance sheet provide resilience. The company holds substantial cash reserves, supporting both investments and potential shareholder returns through buybacks and dividends.

Alphabet shares have delivered solid long-term performance despite periodic volatility. From pandemic-era levels, the stock has multiplied several times, reflecting Google’s enduring role in digital advertising and expanding presence in cloud and AI. Year-to-date performance in 2026 has been mixed, with gains tempered by concerns over heavy AI spending.

Analysts generally maintain constructive outlooks. Consensus ratings lean toward Buy, with price targets reflecting expectations of sustained growth in core businesses and eventual payoffs from AI infrastructure. Some notes highlight risks from competition and regulatory pressures, but most view Alphabet’s scale, data advantages and engineering talent as durable moats.

Trading volume on Tuesday remained typical for the stock, without the extreme spikes seen during major news events. Options activity suggested measured positioning ahead of earnings, with implied volatility indicating expectations for a meaningful but not outsized post-report move.

For retail investors, Alphabet represents a core holding in many portfolios due to its blue-chip status and exposure to multiple growth themes. Discussions often center on the balance between near-term capex burdens and long-term AI leadership potential. The company’s recent partnership expansions and chip developments have reinforced its narrative as an AI contender rather than a pure search play.

As the session progressed, broader market resilience supported selective buying in technology names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average showed modest gains, while other mega-cap tech stocks traded mixed.

Looking beyond the immediate earnings horizon, Alphabet faces key questions around monetization of AI features, competitive dynamics in cloud computing and the trajectory of its “Other Bets” portfolio. Waymo continues to expand autonomous ride-hailing services in select cities, potentially opening new revenue streams over time.

The company has also pursued strategic acquisitions and investments to bolster its AI capabilities. While details on specific deals remain fluid, the overall direction underscores a commitment to staying at the forefront of technological change.

Alphabet’s Class C shares, which lack voting rights, often trade at a slight discount to the voting Class A shares (GOOGL). Both provide identical economic exposure to the underlying business.

In summary, Tuesday’s modest 0.26% gain in Alphabet stock reflects steady positioning as investors gear up for what could be a pivotal earnings update. With Google Cloud accelerating, AI investments ramping and search fundamentals holding firm, the coming report will test whether the market believes the heavy spending will deliver proportional returns.

As April 29 approaches, all eyes turn to Pichai and the finance team for clarity on execution, margins and the path forward in an increasingly AI-driven world. For a company that has long dominated digital advertising while quietly building cloud and hardware capabilities, the stakes have rarely been higher.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI over whether its ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot could bear legal responsibility in last year’s deadly mass shooting at Florida State University.

The probe follows a review of chat logs between the suspect, Phoenix Ikner, and ChatGPT after a April 17, 2025, attack that left two people dead and six others injured.

Uthmeier alleged the chatbot advised the gunman on what weapons and ammunition to use, as well as when and where to carry out the attack to encounter more people.

“If this were a person on the other end of the screen, we would be charging them with murder,” Uthmeier said. “Just because this is a chatbot, an AI, does not mean that there is not criminal culpability. So, we’re going to look at who knew what, designed what or should have done more.”

WAR DEPARTMENT TO PARTNER WITH OPENAI TO INTEGRATE CHATGPT INTO GENAI.MIL

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announces a criminal investigation into OpenAI during a press conference in Tallahassee. (Florida AG James Uthmeier Facebook / Fox News)

State officials are examining whether OpenAI could be held liable under Florida law, which allows those who aid, abet or counsel a crime to be charged as principals.

The Office of Statewide Prosecution has subpoenaed OpenAI for internal policies, training materials and records related to how the company handles threats of violence and cooperates with law enforcement, according to the announcement.

OpenAI pushed back on the claims, saying its technology did not promote or enable the attack.

CHINESE HACKERS WEAPONIZE ANTHROPIC’S AI IN FIRST AUTONOMOUS CYBERATTACK TARGETING GLOBAL ORGANIZATIONS 

OpenAI logo Feb. 16, 2025 (Reuters/Dado Ruvic / Reuters)

“Last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University was a tragedy, but ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime,” OpenAI spokesperson Kate Waters said in a statement to Fox News. “After learning of the incident, we identified a ChatGPT account believed to be associated with the suspect and proactively shared this information with law enforcement.”

She said OpenAI continues to cooperate with authorities and is working to strengthen ChatGPT’s safeguards to detect “harmful intent, limit misuse and respond appropriately when safety risks arise.”

“In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet, and it did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity,” Waters said. “ChatGPT is a general-purpose tool used by hundreds of millions of people every day for legitimate purposes.”

GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY 

Phoenix Ikner, 20, was booked on first-degree murder charges and related counts Monday after he was released from a hospital where he had been since the mass shooting on the Tallahassee campus April 17. (Leon County Sheriff’s Office / Fox News)

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said the case highlights broader concerns about artificial intelligence.

“Artificial intelligence is built by man. Man is fallible. Man makes mistakes,” Glass said.

Authorities have previously said Ikner, 20, opened fire on campus using weapons stolen from his parents’ home before being shot and wounded by responding officers.

He was later indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The case is now being cited by Florida officials as part of a broader push to crack down on crimes involving artificial intelligence, including legislation signed earlier this year increasing penalties for AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

NEW YORK — Anime fans around the world reported difficulties accessing the popular free streaming site 9Anime on Tuesday, with user complaints surging on outage trackers and social media as the platform experienced intermittent problems affecting video playback, loading times and overall accessibility.

Multiple monitoring services, including DownDetector and DownForEveryoneOrJustMe, recorded elevated user reports starting in the early morning hours on April 21, 2026. Some users encountered error messages, blank pages or failed video streams when trying to watch subbed or dubbed anime episodes. Others noted that certain mirror domains or servers appeared unresponsive while main pages loaded partially.

The issues appeared widespread but not universal. Reports came from users in the United States, Philippines, Malaysia, Sweden, Nepal and other countries, suggesting possible server-side problems, regional routing issues or high traffic strain rather than a complete global shutdown. By mid-morning, some affected viewers said access had partially or fully returned, while others continued experiencing disruptions.

9Anime, a long-standing unofficial anime streaming platform offering thousands of titles with English subtitles and dubs, has faced repeated technical hiccups and domain changes over the years. The site frequently relies on multiple mirror servers and third-party hosting to deliver content, making it vulnerable to overloads, maintenance windows or targeted disruptions. Past outages have lasted from a few hours to several days, often prompting frustrated fans to seek alternatives.

Outage tracking data showed a noticeable spike in reports beginning around 1:48 a.m. EDT, with complaints focusing on inability to load episodes, audio issues or complete site unavailability. Downdetector graphs indicated the volume of reports remained elevated through the morning, though not at the scale of major historical blackouts that have affected the platform.

The timing coincided with heightened interest in new anime releases and seasonal titles, which often drive traffic surges to free streaming sites. Such spikes can overwhelm infrastructure not designed for massive concurrent users, leading to temporary slowdowns or errors. Some observers speculated that ongoing server migrations or maintenance — common for sites in this space — might have contributed to the instability.

Legal and regulatory pressures have also shaped the platform’s recent history. 9Anime and similar sites have been targeted in anti-piracy efforts, including U.S. government reports highlighting anime streaming portals and court injunctions in countries like India that allow dynamic blocking of mirror domains. These actions have forced frequent domain shifts and mirror adjustments, sometimes resulting in temporary access issues for users.

Despite the problems, many fans reported that alternative mirrors or VPNs helped restore partial functionality. Others turned to legal streaming services such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu or HIDIVE for uninterrupted viewing. Community discussions on platforms like Reddit’s anime-related forums quickly filled with recommendations for backup sites, troubleshooting tips and shared frustration over recurring downtime.

Common workarounds shared by users included clearing browser cache and cookies, trying different browsers or devices, switching DNS settings, or using a VPN to change apparent location. Some advised waiting several hours, as past outages have resolved after server-side adjustments. However, experts caution that relying on unofficial streaming sites carries risks, including exposure to ads, malware and inconsistent video quality.

The 9Anime ecosystem has evolved through multiple rebrands and clones. The original platform once operated under domains that later shifted or faced shutdowns, with users often migrating to new mirrors. This fluid nature means the exact domain or mirror in use can vary, and not all versions experience the same issues simultaneously. Fans are frequently reminded to verify the legitimacy of any site they visit to avoid phishing or malicious clones.

For dedicated anime viewers, repeated downtime highlights the fragility of free, ad-supported streaming options. Legal platforms have expanded their catalogs significantly in recent years, offering ad-free experiences, offline downloads and simultaneous releases with Japanese broadcasts. While paid services require subscriptions, they provide reliability and support creators directly through licensing agreements.

Industry analysts note that anime has become a major global entertainment category, with streaming rights fiercely contested among major players. High demand for both classic titles and new seasons strains unofficial sites, which often lack the robust infrastructure of corporate platforms. This mismatch frequently leads to the kind of technical problems reported on April 21.

Social media reactions ranged from annoyance to resignation, with hashtags like #9animeDown trending intermittently in affected regions. Some users posted screenshots of error pages or loading spinners, while others shared successful access via alternative routes. A few speculated that the outage might relate to broader internet routing issues or maintenance on cloud hosting providers commonly used by such sites.

As the day progressed, outage reports appeared to moderate for some users, suggesting the platform’s operators may have addressed capacity or configuration problems. However, intermittent issues can persist for hours or days, especially during peak viewing times in different time zones.

For those still unable to access 9Anime, community-recommended steps include checking status pages like DownDetector, trying multiple mirrors listed on fan forums, or temporarily switching to official apps and services. Long-term, many viewers are shifting toward legal options to ensure consistent access and better support for the anime industry.

The recurring nature of 9Anime outages underscores broader challenges in the unofficial streaming landscape. Without stable infrastructure or dedicated support, these platforms often struggle during traffic peaks or after domain-related disruptions. In contrast, licensed services invest heavily in content delivery networks and redundancy to minimize downtime.

Anime enthusiasts are encouraged to explore a mix of options depending on their preferences and budget. Free legal alternatives with limited catalogs exist alongside premium subscriptions that unlock extensive libraries. Browser extensions for ad-blocking or script management can sometimes improve experiences on unofficial sites, but they do not guarantee stability.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no official statement had been issued by any associated 9Anime operators regarding the reported problems. Such sites typically communicate minimally, leaving users to rely on community updates and status trackers.

The situation serves as a reminder for anime fans to bookmark multiple reliable sources and stay informed about potential disruptions. Whether the April 21 issues resolve quickly or linger into the evening, the episode highlights both the popularity of free streaming and its inherent limitations compared with professional platforms.

For now, many affected viewers are patiently waiting or exploring alternatives while hoping for a swift return to normal service. The global anime community remains resilient, quickly adapting to technical hiccups that have become a familiar part of the streaming experience on unofficial sites.

By Jennifer Nash

The Advance Retail Sales Report from the Census Bureau showed consumer spending was more robust than expected in March. Headline sales jumped 1.7%, a sharp acceleration from February’s 0.7% rise and above the projected 1.4% growth. This

There’s a quiet truth in the business world—something that isn’t often shared in motivational posts or flashy success stories.

Not all successful entrepreneurs follow the advice you commonly hear.

Behind the scenes, profitable business owners operate differently. They make decisions that may seem boring, uncomfortable, or even counterintuitive. These are the habits that don’t usually go viral—but they are the ones that actually make money.

If you’ve ever wondered why some businesses consistently grow while others struggle, this article will uncover what’s really happening behind the curtain.

1. They Focus on Profit, Not Just Sales

Many beginners are obsessed with sales numbers. They celebrate hitting revenue milestones without realizing one critical detail:

Revenue does not equal profit.

Profitable entrepreneurs are extremely aware of their margins. They know exactly how much they keep after expenses, and they design their business around profitability—not vanity metrics.

While others chase “more customers,” smart entrepreneurs ask:

• Is this customer actually profitable?
• Are my costs increasing faster than my income?
• Can I simplify operations to earn more with less effort?

This mindset alone separates struggling businesses from thriving ones.

2. They Say “No” More Often Than “Yes”

One of the most underrated skills in business is the ability to say no.

Opportunities will always come—partnerships, projects, trends, and ideas. But profitable entrepreneurs don’t chase everything.

They protect their time, energy, and focus.

Instead of asking, “Can I do this?” they ask:

“Should I do this?”

They understand that every “yes” to the wrong thing is a “no” to something more important.

This discipline keeps them focused on what actually grows their business.

3. They Build Systems, Not Just Hustle

Hard work is important—but it’s not enough.

Many people stay stuck because they rely purely on effort. They work long hours, multitask constantly, and burn out quickly.

Profitable entrepreneurs take a different approach.

They build systems.

Instead of doing everything manually, they create repeatable processes:

• Automated marketing funnels
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Delegated tasks to team members

This allows their business to grow even when they are not actively working.

In short: they stop trading time for money and start building machines that generate income.

4. They Make Decisions Based on Data, Not Emotions

Emotions can be dangerous in business.

Fear, excitement, impatience—these can all lead to poor decisions.

Profitable entrepreneurs rely on something more reliable:

Data.

They track everything that matters:

• Customer acquisition cost
• Conversion rates
• Customer lifetime value
• Profit margins

Instead of guessing, they analyze.

Instead of reacting, they adjust strategically.

This gives them a huge advantage over competitors who rely on “gut feel” alone.

5. They Invest in What Most People Avoid

Here’s something rarely talked about:

Profitable entrepreneurs spend money wisely—even when it’s uncomfortable.

They invest in things that don’t give instant results, such as:

• Education and skill development
• Hiring the right people
• Better tools and systems

Many beginners try to save money by doing everything themselves.

But experienced entrepreneurs understand this truth:

Being cheap can be expensive.

They invest to grow faster, avoid costly mistakes, and scale efficiently.

6. They Stay Consistent—Even When It’s Boring

Success in business is not always exciting.

In fact, most of it is repetitive.

Posting content regularly, improving products, following up with customers, optimizing processes—these are not glamorous tasks.

But they are essential.

Profitable entrepreneurs win because they stay consistent.

They show up even when they don’t feel like it.

They continue even when results are slow.

They trust the process.

This long-term discipline is what creates sustainable success.

7. They Learn to Manage Risk—Not Avoid It

Many people avoid starting or growing a business because they fear risk.

But here’s the truth:

Business always involves risk.

The difference is how you handle it.

Profitable entrepreneurs don’t eliminate risk—they manage it.

They:

• Test ideas before fully committing
• Start small and scale gradually
• Prepare backup plans

This approach allows them to move forward confidently without being reckless.

8. They Focus on Long-Term Growth, Not Quick Wins

In today’s fast-paced world, many people want instant results.

Quick profits, viral success, overnight growth.

But profitable entrepreneurs play a different game.

They think long-term.

They focus on:

• Building strong customer relationships
• Creating valuable products or services
• Establishing a trusted brand

They understand that real success takes time—but it lasts longer.

9. They Take Responsibility for Everything

One of the biggest mindset shifts in business is ownership.

Unsuccessful entrepreneurs often blame:

• The market
• The competition
• The economy

Profitable entrepreneurs take full responsibility.

If something doesn’t work, they ask:

“What can I improve?”

This mindset gives them control over their results—and the power to change them.

10. They Keep Learning and Adapting

The business world is constantly changing.

Trends evolve. Technology advances. Customer behavior shifts.

Profitable entrepreneurs stay ahead because they never stop learning.

They:

• Study their industry
• Observe competitors
• Experiment with new strategies

They adapt quickly instead of resisting change.

This flexibility keeps them relevant—and profitable.

The truth is, success in business is not just about having a good idea.

It’s about how you think, decide, and act consistently over time.

The habits shared in this article may not always be exciting or easy—but they are effective.

And that’s what truly matters.

If you want to grow your business, start by applying even one or two of these principles today.

Because at the end of the day, the difference between struggling and successful entrepreneurs often comes down to what they do when no one is watching.

Business News Philippines was launched in October 2015 as a portal for readers to learn more about operating a business in the Philippines.

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