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July 06, 2026
 

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TECH

Despite repeated technological upheavals, finance has preserved its profits by reinventing fee-generating services. But the rise of AI could ultimately render much of the industry irrelevant.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 1, 2026
AI threatens the finance industry’s perpetual profit machine
The utopian promise of AI is abundance, but the only guaranteed beneficiaries are the super elites that own the machines.
Kawada Robotics demonstrates one of its prototypes at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo in March 2022. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is wise to accelerate science and technology integration with national security and diplomacy.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Mar 31, 2026
Takaichi rallies support for a ‘new technology-driven nation’
Positioning science and technology at the core of national strategy is not new.
Mark Zuckerberg exits the Los Angeles Superior Court on Feb. 18.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 31, 2026
Meta’s $280 billion tailspin sparks ‘tobacco moment’ questions
Wall Street is grappling with the possibility that social media companies could face a similar risk to the shrinking of the tobacco industry following stronger regulations.
When downloaded, OpenClaw can be connected to existing AI models and given simple instructions through instant messaging apps.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 31, 2026
OpenClaw creator visits Tokyo to pitch AI agents that organize your life
The artificial intelligence agent tool has taken the tech world by storm with its ability to execute real-life tasks and connect with existing AI models.
While hybrid intelligence via brain-computer interfaces may one day be possible, experts warn that for healthy adults — or children who cannot consent — the risks likely outweigh the benefits.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 30, 2026
Boosting your brain with a chip carries a price
While hybrid intelligence via brain-computer interfaces may one day be possible, experts warn that for healthy adults and children, the risks likely outweigh the benefits.
An Australian man’s monthslong quest to fight his rescue mutt Rosie’s cancer using artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT has grabbed the attention of OpenAI boss Sam Altman.
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 30, 2026
One man, his dog, and ChatGPT: Australia’s AI vaccine saga
Australian Paul Conyngham used artificial intelligence to design a personalized experimental treatment for his sick dog and find top scientists to administer it.
Delegates attend the World Trade Organization 14th ministerial meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Saturday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 30, 2026
WTO talks end in deadlock after Brazil blocks deal over e-commerce duties
The WTO countries are negotiating an extension to a moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions such as digital downloads.
Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in the Texas primary election, greets supporters after speaking at his victory party in Austin, Texas, on March 4.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 30, 2026
AI deepfakes blur reality in 2026 U.S. midterm campaigns
Politics experts worry such videos could leave voters confused, or even deceived.
Hisashi Matsumoto, Japan's digital transformation minister
BUSINESS
Mar 29, 2026
Sakura Internet formally selected as government cloud provider
The decision makes Sakura Internet the first domestic service provider for the government cloud.
Toshiba plans to start negotiations with Mitsubishi Electric and chipmaker Rohm to merge their power semiconductor businesses, as international competition over the sector heats up.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 28, 2026
Japan firms weigh merging power chip businesses
Toshiba said it will start negotiations with Mitsubishi Electric and chipmaker Rohm to merge their power semiconductor businesses.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends the Council for Science, Technology and Innovation meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 28, 2026
Japan to promote research and development for dual-use technology
The policy direction reflects the fact that various countries are advancing the military application of advanced technologies.
SoftBank’s latest bet on OpenAI comes on top of more than $30 billion the company has already injected into the startup.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 28, 2026
SoftBank secures record $40 billion bridge loan for OpenAI stake
The loan is SoftBank’s largest-ever borrowing denominated solely in dollars.
Japan was the first country in the world to adopt 3G, but this month, it cuts off access to the obsolete wireless network for good.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Mar 28, 2026
With the end of 3G, Japan’s beloved flip phones go dark
More than 500,000 users and their retro phones will lose access to the network from March 31.
SMIC, China's largest chipmaker, has been heavily sanctioned by the U.S. government over alleged ties to the Chinese ‌military.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 27, 2026
China’s top chipmaker has supplied chipmaking tech to Iran military, U.S. officials say
The officials said SMIC, which had been heavily sanctioned by the U.S. government over alleged ties to the Chinese ‌military, began sending ‌the tools to Iran roughly a year ago.
A photo provided by the U.S. Central Command shows LUCAS drones, made by SpektreWorks. After years of criticism and financial risk, Palantir, Anthropic and small startups are generating rewards from their investments in defense tech.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 26, 2026
Tech startups’ role in U.S.-Israeli war on Iran shows changing shape of conflict
For the first time, military-industrial pillars like Lockheed Martin and Boeing are being joined by rising technology giants Palantir, Anthropic and Anduril.
Tim Rowe, the founder and executive chair of Cambridge Innovation Center, at CIC Tokyo on March 6.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 25, 2026
Global startup hub chief calls for more government support from Japan
The founder of Cambridge Innovation Center said boosted policy support is key to reach the country’s goal of ¥10 trillion a year in investments by 2027.
Many high school textbooks to be used from fiscal 2027 have descriptions about generative AI.
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2026
High school textbooks to teach various aspects of generative AI
A total of 220 textbooks for 11 subjects have passed the second round of screenings conducted under the current curriculum guidelines.
The U.S. health care sector has been expanding as baby boomers retire, Social Security rolls rise and medical advances extend lifespans.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 25, 2026
Health care can’t be the only job in town — but it is
Health care is a labor-intensive industry that’s become more central to the economy as baby boomers retire.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company is focusing its efforts on AI agents and a new artificial intelligence model called Spud, as it moves to discontinue its Sora AI video generator.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 25, 2026
OpenAI discontinues support for Sora and winds down Disney deal
In a note to staff about the changes, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company is focusing its efforts on AI agents and a new artificial intelligence model called Spud.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government approved a draft revision to the drone law at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2026
Government approves bill to expand no-fly zones for drones in Japan
While the designated no-fly zones have not changed since the law entered into force in 2016, drones’ maximum speeds, ranges and load capacities have drastically improved.
‘My dream is broken’: Japan visa rules push out foreign residents
A man orders from a kebab shop in the Okubo district in Tokyo.
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Japanese police arrest nine over Sierra Leone-based special fraud
Japanese police have arrested nine individuals for their alleged involvement in a special fraud case using Sierra Leone as a base.
Japanese-language education is at a turning point
The country is gradually transforming Japanese-language education from a volunteer-driven system into a professional, government-supported network to better serve its growing foreign population. 
Japan plans to sharply raise fees for residence permits from October
Foreign tourists walk on the path leading to the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in May.
X Games returns to Chiba with new team format
Skateboarder Sora Shirai practices at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Friday afternoon. X Games Chiba begins on Saturday.
NU Festival tests Takanawa Gateway City complex’s culture cred
Veteran improvisers Kazuo Imai and Atsuhiro Ito brought some unruly energy to NU Festival, a three-day multimedia event held at the Takanawa Gateway City complex.  
Japan’s princesses face life-altering legal revisions
Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito, said in a 2022 news conference upon coming of age that she hopes to “spend a long time together” with her parents.
Six of the best: rikishi of note in each sumo division
Kazuma (right) faces off against future <i>yokozuna</i> Onosato during the All Japan Amateur Sumo Championships at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in December 2020.

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