AI, Crypto, & Global Shifts

Hello everyone, this is Empathy Keeper from 'The Beginning of Empathy'. Today, we're going to take a deep dive into the major news from 24 countries around the world from yesterday, all through the lens of empathy. We'll explore the waves of change brought by cutting-edge technological advancements, the stability of our economic and infrastructural foundations, and how various social issues in different countries are interconnected. Let's embark on this journey of understanding and empathy together, shall we?

One of the most striking pieces of news yesterday was the significant leap forward in artificial intelligence and robotics technology. In Beijing, China, a 'Robot Mall' has opened its doors, showcasing a variety of robots for sale, from humanoid butler robots to chess partners and robot dogs. This clearly demonstrates the massive investment China is pouring into its robotics and AI industries. It's a glimpse into China's determination to overcome internal challenges like an aging population and slowing economic growth through technological innovation.

Alongside this, Rio AI City was announced in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, setting an ambitious goal to become one of the top 10 AI hubs in the world by 2032. Their plan to attract 65 billion dollars in investment to build sustainable data centers and seek technology exports shows that AI is becoming a core driver determining the future of cities. Brazil's efforts to transform itself from just a tourist destination to a center of technological production are truly impressive.

In the United States, news broke that major artificial intelligence chip manufacturers have agreed to pay 15% of their China sales revenue to the U.S. government. This suggests that AI technology is not just about industrial competition but has become central to national security and trade policy. Meanwhile, President Trump's threat of an antitrust lawsuit against a major tech company concerning the app ranking of his AI chatbot, Grok, also highlights the fierce market competition and regulatory debates surrounding AI technology.

Japan also saw significant moves in AI. Fujikura and Yashima Electric are expanding their AI-related businesses with large-scale investments to meet the increasing demand for data centers. Fujikura's investment of approximately 450 billion Korean won (45 billion Japanese Yen) in optical fiber cable facilities and Yashima Electric's focus on specialized air conditioning for data centers underscore the importance of the often-unseen infrastructure industry in the age of AI. Furthermore, Japan's short-term job matching platform, Timee, fully acquiring Sukimaworks to bring it into its group can be interpreted as a move to simultaneously pursue flexibility in the changing labor market and AI-driven efficiency.

In Taiwan, Hon Juen, a subsidiary of Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, is investing 1 billion dollars in an AI-powered smart manufacturing strategy with a core focus on 'Made in USA.' This perfectly illustrates how global supply chain reorganization and AI technology are converging. Discussions between Zerodha and Perplexity AI in India suggest AI's potential to revolutionize how we access financial market information. And the establishment of NTT Data's dedicated Microsoft Cloud division indicates that companies are accelerating their AI-based digital transformation. As you can see, artificial intelligence is truly the most powerful force globally for changing industrial paradigms and creating wealth.

Moving on, the cryptocurrency market also saw significant movement. With President Trump signing an executive order allowing cryptocurrency investments in 401k retirement plans, the global cryptocurrency market size surged past 4 trillion dollars, reaching an all-time high. This signifies a crucial turning point, suggesting that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin could be integrated into traditional financial systems, moving beyond mere speculative assets. News that Bitcoin prices in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, recovered to near their peak at around 122,000 dollars shows how this expectation of institutional integration is fueling global investor interest. Increased institutional participation and market activation were prominent, with Coinbase Ventures investing in Toncoin in Indonesia and news of Binance listings in India. In Germany, there was an analysis suggesting that Ripple XRP could rise to 4.13 dollars in the short term, but also mentions of a potential correction in September remind us of the need for a cautious approach.

Economically, many unstable factors remained. Market attention was fixed on the upcoming consumer price index announcement in the United States, and President Trump's decision to further postpone tariffs on Chinese products raised hopes for easing trade tensions. However, inflationary pressures due to tariffs remain a significant variable for the U.S. economy.

In Poland, the President vetoed the 'Wind Power Act' and promised to freeze electricity prices, demonstrating the government's commitment to energy security and price stability. Fluctuations in the Polish Zloty against the Euro indicate economic uncertainty even within the European Union. In Australia, expectations grew that the central bank would cut interest rates, raising hopes of easing the cost of living burden for households. However, the fact that per capita consumption decreased due to rising prices still suggests that many families are struggling.

News of Malta, Spain's expanding trade deficit clearly showed the impact of global economic uncertainty on smaller national economies. In Argentina, news of pension payment dates and education voucher plans gave a glimpse into government efforts to stabilize the livelihoods of low-income citizens. However, reports of kiosk and business closures were a bitter reflection of Argentina still facing economic difficulties. Azul Airlines in Brazil suspending unprofitable routes and the confectionery company M. Dias Branco reporting positive results suggest that companies are restructuring or maximizing efficiency to survive in unstable economic conditions. Also noteworthy is that Brazil's Chilli Beans began using Chinese Yuan instead of dollars for trade with China, showing that the global de-dollarization movement is appearing at the corporate level.

In China, efforts to promote resource recycling and activate the circular economy through 'Reverse Invoicing' policies stood out. This exemplifies China's unique approach to simultaneously pursue environmental protection and economic growth. In Saudi Arabia, President Trump's comments regarding gold tariffs caused gold prices to fall, highlighting the significant impact of international trade policy on global commodity markets.

Finally, there was much news highlighting the importance of infrastructure and daily life. In Iraq, a nationwide power outage occurred amidst a record-breaking heatwave, demonstrating the direct impact of climate change on infrastructure and the suffering of citizens. This also exposed the limits of the government's power supply capacity, relying on private generators. A large-scale water supply warning in Vladivostok, Russia, indicated potential major inconvenience for citizens' daily lives. While there was positive news of increased clean energy supply as Canada's British Columbia's Site C Dam became fully operational, large-scale power outages due to facility failures still emphasized the importance of a stable power supply. A major power outage in Türkiye's Izmir region also significantly affected residents' daily lives.

News that the redevelopment project of Metz Street in Toulouse, Spain, caused dissatisfaction among some merchants shows that urban development does not always bring only positive outcomes. This fosters empathy for the need for a delicate, human-centered approach when formulating policies. The sudden passing of the owner of a famous fried fish paste ('tempura') shop in Taipei, Taiwan, brought great sadness to the local community, showing that it's not just the closure of a restaurant, but the disappearance of memories and a part of life that had been shared with residents for a long time. Delays and partial suspensions of subway and Metrobus services in Mexico City's metropolitan area exacerbate inconvenience for public transport users, prompting us to once again consider the importance of infrastructure management directly linked to citizens' quality of life.

Analyzing yesterday's major news from various countries around the world allowed us to foster empathy across different aspects: the hope brought by technological innovation, economic uncertainty, and infrastructure problems encountered in daily life. In particular, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency are establishing themselves as core drivers of the future economy, and each country is embracing this change according to its unique characteristics. Simultaneously, basic infrastructure issues such as inflation, interest rates, trade policy, and electricity and water supply continue to significantly impact lives worldwide. Through these news stories, we feel that the entire world is connected like one vast community. Even news from a distant country contains human concerns and efforts that we can all empathize with. I believe that understanding and respecting each other's situations is truly 'The Beginning of Empathy'. I hope that this understanding and empathy will be a great force in building a better future together.

See you in the next news update. Thank you.