The commitment came during Takaichi’s visit to Hanoi, where the two leaders discussed expanding the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023, covering sectors including energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space cooperation.

“The two sides identified economic security as a new priority area for bilateral cooperation,” Takaichi told reporters after the meeting.“With regard to critical minerals, both sides agreed to strengthen close coordination to ensure stable supplies and reinforce supply chains,” she said.

The talks come as Japanese investment flows into Vietnam weakened sharply despite stronger trade ties. New Japanese investment in Vietnam fell about 75% year-on-year to $233 million in the first quarter of 2026, while bilateral trade rose 12.3% to $13.7 billion during the same period, according to Vietnamese government and customs data.

Japan remains one of Vietnam’s largest foreign investors, with major Japanese manufacturers operating extensive production bases in the country across electronics, automotive and industrial sectors.As part of the visit, both governments signed six agreements covering infrastructure development, climate action, agriculture, digital transformation, technology cooperation and space development, reinforcing broader strategic cooperation beyond trade.

Vietnam has also been seeking support from Japan and other partners to stabilize oil supplies as conflict in the Middle East pushes up crude prices and disrupts shipping routes.Under Japan’s $10 billion Power Asia Initiative, designed to strengthen energy self-reliance across Asia, Tokyo will help arrange crude oil supplies for Vietnam’s Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, one of the country’s most important energy facilities, Prime Minister Hung said.

Takaichi is also scheduled to meet To Lam and senior Communist Party leadership later on Saturday and deliver a keynote address at Vietnam National University.Her speech is expected to mark a decade since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe introduced Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy, a regional framework aimed at strengthening rules-based order, maritime security and economic cooperation across Asia.

Vietnam has publicly supported Japan’s regional initiatives, including the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision, aligning them with ASEAN’s broader Indo-Pacific outlook and emphasizing international law, regional stability and balanced strategic autonomy.Hung said Vietnam viewed the framework as contributing positively to “peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.”

The visit reflects Tokyo’s broader effort to deepen strategic partnerships across Southeast Asia as competition over technology, trade routes, mineral access and energy security intensifies across the Indo-Pacific.

Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, is suing the company, Chief Executive Sam Altman, President Greg Brockman and major investor Microsoft, alleging they abandoned OpenAI’s original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity and instead turned it into a commercial enterprise focused on profit.

“If we make it okay to loot a charity, the entire foundation of charitable giving in America will be destroyed,” Musk told the court on the first day of trial. “That’s my concern.”Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, with the proceeds directed to OpenAI’s charitable arm. He is also asking the court to require OpenAI to return to nonprofit control and to remove Altman and Brockman from leadership roles, while seeking Altman’s removal from the board.

The lawsuit includes claims of breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment and could have significant implications for OpenAI’s governance as the company explores a potential initial public offering that Reuters has previously reported could value it near $1 trillion.

OpenAI lawyer Bill Savitt told jurors during opening arguments that Musk had originally supported the idea of turning OpenAI into a for-profit structure and only sued after failing to gain control of the company and later launching his own rival artificial intelligence venture, xAI.Savitt said Musk wanted “the keys to the kingdom” and pursued litigation only after OpenAI rejected his ambitions to lead the company.

“What he cares about is Elon Musk being on top,” Savitt said. “We are here because Mr Musk didn’t get his way.”OpenAI’s legal team argued that its decision in March 2019 to establish a for-profit entity was necessary to secure the computing resources and talent needed to compete with rivals such as Google’s DeepMind artificial intelligence division.

Musk’s lawyer Steven Molo rejected that argument, saying OpenAI’s leadership shifted focus once major investors, including Microsoft, entered the picture.“It wasn’t a vehicle for people to get rich,” Molo said.Before jurors entered the courtroom, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers warned Musk over his social media activity after OpenAI lawyers raised concerns about his posts on X, where he referred to Altman as “Scam Altman” and accused him of stealing a charity.

Rogers said she was reluctant to impose a gag order but urged Musk to avoid using social media to influence matters outside the courtroom.Musk agreed to reduce his online commentary, as did Altman. Both are expected to testify, along with Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella.

The trial is expected to provide a rare public examination of OpenAI’s evolution from a nonprofit founded in 2015 in Brockman’s apartment into one of the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence companies, currently estimated to be worth more than $850 billion.

Musk testified that his concerns about artificial intelligence safety were central to OpenAI’s founding and intensified after discussions with former U.S. President Barack Obama and with Larry Page, whom he said did not take the risks of advanced AI seriously enough.“We had to have a counterpoint against Google,” Musk said.

OpenAI disputed that characterization, with Savitt telling jurors that Musk had dismissed employees focused on AI safety and that such concerns were not his primary motivation.

Musk has said he contributed about $38 million to OpenAI before leaving its board, later objecting to its restructuring and Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar investment.

Microsoft lawyer Russell Cohen said the company had acted properly throughout its partnership with OpenAI and described it as “a responsible partner every step of the way.”

A surge in investment linked to artificial intelligence is reshaping Britain’s real estate market, as demand for data centre infrastructure drives up land values, strains electricity networks and fuels speculative development activity.

Across the United Kingdom, industrial landowners, property developers and investors are repositioning sites to attract technology firms seeking locations for large-scale data centres.

The shift is being driven by anticipated spending from major technology companies including Google, Microsoft and Nvidia, which have pledged billions of dollars toward digital infrastructure.At the centre of this transformation is the Wilton International site in northeast England, where disused land once tied to the declining chemical industry is being repurposed for potential AI data centre development.

The site benefits from existing energy infrastructure, including grid connections and on-site power generation, making it an example of what industry participants describe as “powered land.”Owned primarily by Sembcorp UK, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, the Wilton site is being marketed in partnership with developer Digital Reef to attract a hyperscale tenant.

Such tenants—large cloud computing providers including Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft require significant and reliable power supplies to support AI workloads.Industry participants say the defining requirement for AI data centres is access to electricity rather than proximity to financial hubs, allowing development to shift away from high-cost urban centres such as London toward less expensive industrial or rural areas.

According to construction analytics firm Barbour ABI, plans for 119 data centres have been submitted across Britain, spanning locations from former industrial facilities to repurposed commercial sites. This surge has led to a sharp increase in applications for electricity grid connections.

Data from Britain’s energy authorities show that demand for grid connections rose by 460% in the first half of 2025. Applications to connect to the high-voltage network reached 96 gigawatts, with an additional 29 gigawatts requested for local networks. For comparison, the country’s total electricity generation capacity is estimated at around 72 gigawatts.

The National Energy System Operator reported that approximately 140 data centre projects are currently in the connection queue, representing around 50 gigawatts of demand. The volume of applications has extended waiting times for grid access to between 12 and 15 years, creating a bottleneck that industry participants say is delaying viable projects.

The backlog has also been exacerbated by speculative applications. Some landowners have sought grid connections without confirmed planning approval or end users, leading to the emergence of so-called “zombie projects” that occupy capacity in the queue without clear development prospects.

In response, the operator has proposed reforms to prioritise projects deemed strategically important, including data centres, and to filter out speculative demand. A similar approach applied to renewable energy projects previously reduced connection requests by half.The scarcity of grid access has significantly altered land valuations.

According to Savills, industrial land in London typically sells for between 4.5 million and 6 million pounds per acre. Sites suitable for data centres can command between 8 million and 15 million pounds per acre, reflecting the premium attached to reliable power supply.

Comparable trends are evident in the United States, where real estate adviser Colliers reports that powered land can sell for more than twice the value of standard industrial land, with even higher multiples in established data centre markets such as northern Virginia and northern California.

Developers are increasingly adopting unconventional approaches to secure power access. In one case, a project acquired by Equinix obtained a grid connection by partnering with a battery storage developer and converting its allocation to suit data centre requirements.

Equinix plans to invest approximately 3.9 billion pounds in the development, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and operations targeted for 2031.However, securing a connection does not guarantee timely access to power.

Industry executives report instances where connection timelines have been delayed by more than a decade, forcing developers to explore alternative energy solutions to maintain project viability.Despite the surge in proposals, Britain lags behind other markets in actual project delivery.

Data compiled by DC Byte indicates that only 7% of tracked UK data centre projects are under construction or completed, compared with 46% in Germany, 40% in France and 24% in the United States.High industrial electricity costs and regulatory challenges have further complicated development. OpenAI recently paused plans for a large data centre in northeastern England, citing concerns over energy pricing and regulatory conditions.

Nonetheless, industry stakeholders maintain that underlying demand for AI infrastructure remains strong. At the Wilton site, existing grid capacity of 240 megawatts, combined with on-site generation from gas, biomass and waste-to-energy facilities, provides a foundation for expansion. Plans include integrating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, with the potential to scale capacity to one gigawatt.

Developers estimate that achieving this scale could require investment of approximately 15 billion pounds over the next decade. Discussions with potential tenants are ongoing, with project backers expressing confidence in long-term demand driven by the adoption of AI technologies.The expansion of data centre infrastructure is increasingly viewed by policymakers and industry as central to economic modernisation strategies.

However, the pace of development will depend on resolving constraints in energy supply, planning approvals and infrastructure capacity, which continue to shape the trajectory of Britain’s AI-driven real estate market.

Chinese startups are setting up operations in Singapore to reassure global clients that their intellectual property is insulated from Beijing’s oversight, while U.S. firms are drawn by easier access to international talent amid tightening visa rules at home, industry executives and analysts said.

Kerry Goh, chief executive of Kamet Capital, said relocating operations to Singapore provides “comfort” to international clients by ensuring data and intellectual property are governed locally. He cited support for a new AI video venture launched by former executives of Alibaba as an example of this shift.

The trend reflects broader fallout from intensifying Sino-U.S. competition over advanced technologies, including export controls and talent mobility restrictions. Policies under U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly changes to H-1B visa rules, have made it harder for companies to deploy global workforces in the United States.

Singapore has responded with incentives aimed at building an AI-focused economy, including fast-track visas for skilled workers and tax benefits for intellectual property registration. Officials say these measures have strengthened the country’s appeal as a technology hub.

Major global firms are expanding their presence. AI developer Anthropic is planning a Singapore office, according to people familiar with the matter, joining companies such as OpenAI, Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, and Google’s DeepMind.

At the same time, the shift has raised concerns among policymakers. Washington has tightened restrictions on advanced chip exports, including limits on sales by Nvidia to China, while Beijing has reportedly imposed constraints on talent mobility for some AI firms expanding overseas.

Analysts warn Singapore’s growing role as a “neutral” jurisdiction could draw scrutiny from both sides. Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, said the city-state risks being viewed as a grey zone for technology transfers, potentially prompting regulatory pushback.

Despite such risks, companies continue to be attracted by Singapore’s streamlined visa processes, with some employment passes approved within days, and its reputation as a stable, business-friendly environment.

The visit marks the first state trip by a South Korean president to India in eight years and comes as both countries seek to strengthen supply chain resilience amid global economic uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict.Lee said the current level of economic cooperation between the two countries remains limited and called for a substantial expansion of ties.

Officials from Seoul said the two sides plan to upgrade their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to boost trade from $25.7 billion recorded last year.Discussions are expected to cover sectors including shipbuilding, finance, artificial intelligence and defence, with Lee also scheduled to attend business events alongside corporate leaders during his visit.

South Korea has increasingly looked to India as a key partner in diversifying supply chains, particularly as disruptions in the Middle East affect energy flows. Last month, Seoul sought increased naphtha supplies from India to offset potential shortages linked to regional tensions.

India accounted for about 8% of South Korea’s naphtha imports last year, and officials say expanding energy trade could also help address imbalances in bilateral commerce. South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $12.8 billion with India, exporting $19.2 billion worth of goods while importing $6.4 billion, according to Korea International Trade Association data.

Analysts say closer cooperation in shipbuilding could emerge as a focal point, aligning India’s employment priorities with South Korea’s industrial strengths. Consumer goods and food sectors tied to the global popularity of Korean culture are also seen as potential growth areas.

Lee is expected to travel to Vietnam after concluding his India visit, as part of a broader regional outreach strategy.

Over 70 teams—almost five times the number in 2025—are set to participate in the event, which will feature a more demanding course including paved slopes and parkland terrain designed to test improvements in durability, balance and battery performance.“It will certainly be interesting to see the progress in durability of components and battery lifetime compared to last year,” said Georg Stieler, Asia managing director at a technology consultancy.

He added that manufacturers continue to face pressure to balance product quality with cost as the technology evolves.Organizers said the race marks a shift from last year, when all participating robots were remotely controlled. In contrast, a significant share of entrants this year will rely on onboard sensors and algorithms to complete the course independently, highlighting gains in perception and decision-making systems.

Among the contenders is Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics in collaboration with UBTech. The robot, which won last year’s race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, is expected to run fully autonomously this time, using sensor-based navigation and data-driven gait modeling.

Developers said achieving human-like running speeds presents significant technical challenges due to the limited time available for real-time perception and response. Training footage shared on Chinese social media shows some robots reaching speeds of up to 14 km per hour, though others displayed instability, with occasional falls and collisions.

China remains the dominant player in humanoid robotics deployment, accounting for more than 80% of the roughly 16,000 units installed globally in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. By comparison, U.S.-based Tesla held about 5% of installations.

Domestic firms including AgiBot and Unitree each shipped over 5,000 units last year, with Unitree planning to scale annual production capacity to 75,000 robots.Despite rapid growth, industry experts say humanoid robots remain far from widespread commercial adoption in industrial environments, where precision, adaptability and complex task execution are required.

Current applications are largely limited to research, demonstrations and service roles such as interactive guides.“The reason our applications aren’t taking off is that the robots’ IQ is too low. The models are poor, their success rates are low,” said Tang Wenbin, founder of embodied intelligence startup Yuanli Lingji, speaking at a recent Beijing forum.

The Chinese government has identified embodied intelligence, or physical AI, as a strategic sector to enhance productivity and modernize manufacturing. Companies are investing heavily in data collection and machine learning, often using human workers equipped with sensors to train robotic systems.

UBTech said it expanded the number of humanoid robots deployed in factories from fewer than 10 in 2024 to more than 1,000 last year, and aims to launch 10,000 full-size units in 2026, including models tailored for commercial use, according to its chief business officer Michael Tam.

The meeting, attended by senior administration officials including Scott Bessent and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, comes as policymakers and industry leaders assess the implications of Anthropic’s latest AI model, Mythos, which has raised concerns about its potential to accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks.

In a statement, the White House described the talks as “productive and constructive,” saying both sides discussed collaboration frameworks and shared protocols to address risks associated with scaling advanced AI systems. It added that further engagements with other leading AI firms were planned.

Anthropic said the meeting focused on joint priorities including cybersecurity, maintaining U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence, and strengthening safety standards. The dialogue marks the first high-level engagement between the two sides since tensions escalated over national security concerns tied to the company’s technology.

The Mythos model, unveiled earlier this month, is being rolled out to a limited number of organizations under a controlled program known as Project Glasswing. The initiative allows selected users to test the system’s capabilities in identifying cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Anthropic has described Mythos as its most advanced model for coding and autonomous task execution.Experts warn that such capabilities could be dual-use, enabling both defensive cybersecurity applications and the identification of exploitable weaknesses in digital infrastructure.

Financial institutions are viewed as particularly exposed due to their reliance on legacy systems integrated with modern technologies, creating complex vulnerability surfaces.Officials in the United States, Canada and Britain have held discussions with banking sector leaders to evaluate potential risks posed by advanced AI tools like Mythos, reflecting growing concern across critical sectors.

The renewed engagement follows a breakdown in relations earlier this year between the company and the Pentagon. The Defense Department imposed a supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic after the firm declined to modify safeguards preventing the use of its AI in autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance applications.

In response, the administration ordered federal agencies to halt use of Anthropic’s tools, and Donald Trump publicly criticized the company. Anthropic subsequently filed a lawsuit in March challenging the designation.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he was unaware of the meeting, underscoring the fragmented nature of the administration’s engagement with the AI sector as it seeks to balance innovation with national security concerns.

Efforts to expand digital literacy and inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire are gaining momentum as civil society organizations seek to address persistent gender gaps in access to technology and online opportunities, according to a United Nations-backed feature highlighting grassroots initiatives.

Aminata Savané, Vice-President of Centre Marée de Lumière, has been at the forefront of these efforts through a training initiative aimed at improving digital skills among women and young people. Despite widespread smartphone use in the country, she said many individuals lack the knowledge required to leverage digital platforms for economic and social advancement.

Since its launch in 2021, the organization’s Digital O’Féminin Tour programme has trained more than 600 women and 200 teenagers in areas including digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and online engagement. Participants have gone on to establish small businesses, develop content for digital platforms, or pursue further training, reflecting growing interest in the digital economy.

Savané said the challenge extends beyond access to technology, describing it as a broader issue of awareness and empowerment. While many users are active on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, they often lack the understanding needed to translate this activity into economic opportunities.“The challenge is the lack of information,” she said, noting that digital engagement remains largely limited to consumption rather than production or entrepreneurship.

“They scroll the internet but they don’t know that by creating an online activity they can make a profit.”The programme integrates technical training with leadership development, an approach Savané said is critical to overcoming social and psychological barriers. In addition to teaching digital skills, the initiative fosters peer support networks intended to encourage participation and confidence among women.

“We’re also creating a safe space, a sisterhood for these women because we’ve realized that, very often, they share the same reality,” she said. “You can impart all the knowledge in the world, but if you can’t activate what springs people into action, it won’t work.”The initiative was designed in response to disparities in digital access and usage between men and women in Côte d’Ivoire.

Savané said addressing these gaps requires challenging entrenched gender stereotypes as well as misconceptions that may limit women’s engagement with technology.Alongside efforts to promote inclusion, the programme also addresses risks associated with digital environments, particularly for younger users.

Savané highlighted concerns related to cybercrime and unsafe online practices, noting that digital literacy must include awareness of potential threats.As part of her broader advocacy work, she has collaborated with UNICEF and the Jeunes Blogueurs CI community to develop a guide on safe internet use for young people. The initiative aims to provide practical guidance on navigating digital spaces securely, reflecting growing concern over online safety in emerging digital ecosystems.

“When I was younger, I found myself in the middle of a digital world without any guidelines,” Savané said, adding that the guide was designed to help younger generations avoid similar challenges.Her work also includes advocacy for systemic change at the policy level. Savané has called for digital literacy to be incorporated into Côte d’Ivoire’s national education curriculum as a standalone subject.

She said such an approach should extend beyond basic computing skills to include online safety, data protection, digital identity, personal branding, and responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.The proposal reflects a broader recognition among policymakers and international organizations that digital skills are increasingly essential for participation in modern economies.

Integrating these competencies into formal education systems is seen as a potential pathway to reducing inequality and supporting long-term economic development.Savané’s contributions have received international recognition. At the end of 2025, she was awarded at the Young Activists Summit held at the United Nations in Geneva, an event supported by a range of international organizations including UN Human Rights, UNESCO, and UNFPA, as well as civil society and private sector partners.

The initiative underscores the role of local organizations in addressing global challenges related to digital inclusion. While infrastructure and access to devices have improved in many regions, the case of Côte d’Ivoire highlights the importance of complementary investments in education, awareness, and capacity-building.

As digital technologies continue to reshape economic and social landscapes, efforts such as the Digital O’Féminin Tour illustrate how targeted interventions can help bridge gaps in participation. The focus on both skills and empowerment reflects an evolving approach to digital development, one that prioritizes not only access but also meaningful and safe engagement.

The Philippines becomes the 13th member of Pax Silica, a programme designed to safeguard the full spectrum of the technology supply chain, including critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing and data infrastructure.

The initiative forms part of the Trump administration’s broader economic strategy to reduce reliance on rival nations and deepen coordination among allied partners. Other participating countries include Australia, Finland, India, Qatar, South Korea and Singapore.

The planned industrial hub will be located within the Luzon Economic Corridor, a key economic zone encompassing Manila and surrounding regions with established manufacturing capacity. The Philippines, Japan and the United States have also committed to increasing infrastructure investment in the corridor under a trilateral framework agreement.

“It is intended to serve as a staging point for a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing,” the State Department said, adding that both countries aim to reinforce supply chains across semiconductors, electronics and other critical sectors.

The project underscores strengthening ties between Manila and Washington under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has moved to deepen cooperation with the United States.

The Philippines, a former U.S. colony, has also taken on strategic importance in Washington’s efforts to counter China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The benchmark KOSPI index has recovered nearly all of last month’s 19% decline, regaining momentum after being one of the world’s top-performing major indices last year. The rebound has been supported by renewed foreign inflows, with $4.2 billion returning to equities in April after record outflows of $23.8 billion in March, according to LSEG data.

Investor interest has been driven in part by the global surge in demand for high-bandwidth memory used in data centres, benefiting major South Korean chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics. Market participants said the March correction created attractive entry points, prompting portfolio reallocations into Korean technology stocks.

“We’re cautiously optimistic, but we think it’s a megatrend,” said Isaac Thong, senior investment director for Asian equities at Aberdeen Investments, referring to the long-term growth potential of AI-linked semiconductor demand.Despite the recovery, the recent market turmoil has exposed structural vulnerabilities.

South Korea’s equity market remains heavily concentrated in a small number of AI-linked firms, amplifying swings during periods of global uncertainty. Since the onset of the Iran war, the KOSPI has experienced sharp daily fluctuations, including declines of up to 12% and gains of 9%, outpacing volatility seen in other Asian and U.S. markets.

The South Korean won has remained near 17-year lows against the U.S. dollar, increasing the cost of energy imports and complicating policy responses. Authorities face a balancing act as measures to support growth risk fuelling inflation, particularly in an economy highly dependent on imported energy.

Government efforts to address the so-called “Korea discount” through corporate governance reforms have begun to attract activist investors, aiming to narrow valuation gaps linked to longstanding concerns over transparency and shareholder rights within family-run conglomerates.While equities have been volatile, South Korea’s bond market has shown resilience.

Companies raised $74.7 billion in the first quarter, maintaining strong issuance levels, while the benchmark 10-year government bond yield has declined this month to its lowest level since February.

Prospects for sovereign debt have improved further with anticipated inclusion in FTSE’s World Government Bond Index, prompting early inflows from major institutional investors including Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, alongside interest from global asset managers such as Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Principal Global Investors.

Analysts estimate that index inclusion could drive between $50 billion and $70 billion in passive fund inflows, reinforcing demand for Korean bonds even as equity markets remain sensitive to external shocks.

However, continued weakness in the won remains a key concern for global investors, with capital outflows and safe-haven demand for the dollar keeping the currency near levels last seen during past financial crises.

Authorities have responded with verbal interventions and strategic hedging operations by the state pension fund to stabilise the currency.