Page 3 - Japan

Fugu vs GLM-5.2 vs Mythos: Why AI benchmarks crown different winners

New AI models from Japan's Sakana AI and China's Z.ai are posting higher scores than Anthropic's Claude Mythos on select benchmarks; here's what it actually means:

Yen falls to weakest level against dollar since 1986 amid rate gap

The Japanese currency slipped to a nearly four-decade low against the US dollar as wide interest rate differentials continued to encourage capital outflows from Japan

Japan PM's India visit: Northeast high on agenda during Modi-Takaichi talks

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Sanae Takaichi are expected to discuss investments, supply chains, semiconductors, energy security and Northeast India during delegation-level talks

Japan backs ACME-IHI Odisha green ammonia project with 25-year subsidy

Japan has approved 25-year CfD support for the ACME-IHI green ammonia project in Odisha, strengthening its commercial viability and India's green hydrogen ambitions

China imposes export controls on 40 Japanese entities as tensions rise

20 Japanese firms have been placed on a control list, which prohibits Chinese and foreign exporters from selling to them dual-use items made in China

6.1-magnitude quake off northeast Japan rattles coast, no tsunami alert

A magnitude-6.1 earthquake rattled northeastern Japan early Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the latest in a series of major temblors hitting the region. No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. But the recent spate of quakes coming during typhoon season has set off worries about mudslides. Sunday's quake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at 7:25 a.m. local time, with a depth of about 40 kilometers (25 miles), and shook Aomori Prefecture and other nearby regions. Japan is prone to quakes and tsunami. A series of quakes have hit lately, including a 7.2 magnitude quake that struck Thursday in the area close to Sunday's quake. That magnitude was revised upward from a preliminary estimate. The agency has warned other quakes may follow. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Yamanashi Prefecture and nearby areas, which are near Mount Fuji and west of Tokyo, on Friday.

Japan evacuates 2 million ahead of typhoon, torrential rain batters Taiwan

Mekkhala, currently a tropical storm, is nearing southern Japan's Ryukyu Islands after skirting Taiwan where it brought heavy rain to parts of the island, especially in the southern regions

Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes northeast Japan, no tsunami warning issued

Authorities reported no injuries, tsunami threat or abnormalities at nuclear facilities after the strong offshore earthquake struck the Tohoku region

Japan's Sakana AI says Fugu Ultra matches Mythos on certain benchmarks

What are Fugu and Fugu Ultra, the AI systems through which Japan's Sakana AI is betting on 'One Model To Command Them All' and claiming Mythos-level performance on some benchmarks?

Japanese PM's Guwahati visit cancelled, Modi to host Takaichi in Delhi

Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's planned visit to Guwahati has been dropped due to logistical constraints, though the summit with PM Narendra Modi is expected to proceed in New Delhi

Purvodaya in focus with PM Modi's push for eastern India's development

From Bengal to Assam, Modi's eastern outreach gathers pace as Guwahati prepares to host the landmark India-Japan summit

PM, Japan's Takaichi to hold talks in Assam in July, eye supply-chain deals

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to visit Guwahati with a business delegation, with investment, supply chains and energy security high on the agenda

Japan's Takaichi may visit India in July with top execs from Suzuki, Toyota

The business delegation may include automaker Suzuki Motor, trading house Itochu and Toyota Motor trading arm Toyota Tsusho

BOJ raises interest rates to 31-year high as Iran war fuels inflation risks

In a widely expected move, the BOJ decided to raise its short-term policy rate to 1 per cent from 0.75 per cent, taking borrowing costs to levels unseen since 1995

Japan's Nikkei tops 68,000 for first time on AI-driven chip stock surge

Japan's Nikkei 225 index topped 68,000 for the first time on Wednesday after US stocks pushed further into record territory. The dollar briefly surpassed 160 Japanese yen before slipping back slightly. Oil prices rose more than USD 1 a barrel. Buying of technology shares linked to the boom in artificial intelligence has been driving rallies worldwide. By midafternoon, the Nikkei 225 was up 2.9% at 68,634.74. Shares in computer chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron gained 13.4%, while those for chip testing equipment maker Advantest gained 5.9%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 1.7% to 25,596.92, while the Shanghai Composite index added 0.4% to 4,092.53. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.9% to 8,806.40 and Taiwan's Taiex gained 2%. In India, the Sensex lost 1.1%. Markets in South Korea were closed for a holiday. On Tuesday, winners of the artificial-intelligence boom kept driving higher, pushing US stocks to more records. "One thing that stands out in today's market is how littl

Japanese toilet maker Toto ramps up its ceramics for AI chipmakers

Shares of Toto jumped as much as 11% in Tokyo on Wednesday, the biggest intraday jump in over a month

SoftBank overtakes Toyota as Japan's most valuable company amid AI boom

The rally has propelled SoftBank shares up more than 90 per cent this year, pushing the company's market value above 48 trillion yen, higher than Toyota's around 46 trillion yen

As US leadership wavers, Japan is stepping up as Asia's new powerbroker

While the United States reaffirmed its commitment to the Indo-Pacific, it was Japan that delivered the clearest warning on China's growing military assertiveness at Asia's premier security forum

Japan suspends Indian mango imports after 20 years: What went wrong?

The suspension follows reported deficiencies in fumigation and disinfection protocols at Indian treatment facilities used for export clearance

Japan woos visiting Philippine President with arms sales, China in mind

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is receiving an exceptional level of hospitality in a four-day state visit to Japan that culminates Thursday. There is a palace banquet, a prestigious national award and a clear message that Tokyo is keen to upgrade ties with a nation it sees as a key defence partner - and major arms customer - at a time of fears over China's military activity in Asia. Marcos' visit ending with his departure Friday has included a greeting by Emperor Naruhito, who gave him the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. On Thursday, Marcos will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which are expected to result in statements further strengthening defence and weapons cooperation. Speaking Wednesday to Japanese lawmakers, Marcos said the emphasis on raising ties to a higher level reflects an "exceptional level of trust" between the nations. Both nations have China firmly in mind as they tighten a military relationship that the Uni