Japan Economy & Policy: Japan will cut the consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years from April 2027, with the gap estimated at about 5 trillion yen and no clear replacement funding yet—debate is expected in the Diet. Markets & Rates: Japan’s Nikkei extended losses in a third straight session as global risk sentiment soured on AI safety warnings and oil-driven inflation worries; the yen and US yields remain key swing factors. AI & Tech Sentiment: AI CEOs called for a slowdown in frontier AI development, triggering a sell-off in AI and chip-related stocks worldwide and reviving “AI bubble” concerns. Finance & Payments: SWIFT has started trials of a blockchain-based digital ledger to enable always-on cross-border transfers between banks, aiming to speed payments and reduce fees. Cyber & Data Security: Japan’s Digital Agency says a cyberattack may have exposed 246,000 personal records, while Swiss Bitcoin Pay shut down servers after suspected internal breach. Business & Corporate Governance: Japan’s shareholder meetings season is still seeing disruptions, even as classic “sokaiya” racketeers fade. Energy & Industry: Chubu Electric’s nuclear restart plans were hit by a data-tampering scandal as top executives resigned. International Business: Junior Japanese lawmakers met senior Chinese officials in Beijing to lower tensions tied to Taiwan-related remarks. Consumer & Lifestyle: Suntory Global Spirits launched Haku Japanese Craft Vodka’s first global campaign, using Tokyo nightlife and experiential marketing to drive international growth.