Artificial intelligence’s practical uses, not race to AGI, is what counts, Jeffrey Ding says

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez have committed $34 million through the Bezos Earth Fund to accelerate the development of sustainable textiles. The funding focuses on alternatives to conventional materials such as polyester and viscose, which are largely derived from fossil fuels. By supporting research into biodegradable and plastic-free fibres, the initiative aims to reduce the environmental footprint of the fashion industry. What began as a conservation-focused philanthropy is now expanding into material innovation, targeting one of the most resource-intensive sectors of the global economy.Jeff Bezos expands climate efforts into sustainable fashionSince its launch in 2020 with a $10 billion climate pledge, the Bezos Earth Fund has primarily supported conservation, climate science, and environmental protection projects. This investment signals a shift towards industrial transformation, particularly in fashion, where materials account for a significant share of emissions and environmenta..

AdvertisementJapanThis Week in AsiaPoliticsTrump’s Pearl Harbour ‘joke’ falls flat in Japan, Takaichi praised for responseAs Japan faces pressure over the Iran war, Takaichi has been commended for steering her meeting with Trump towards trade deals
4-MIN READ4-MIN4 ListenJulian RyallPublished: 7:03pm, 20 Mar 2026People across Japan have recoiled in shock over US President Donald Trump’s joke about the attack on Pearl Harbour in the presence of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the White House, perceiving the incident as an insult to a long-time ally of Washington.On the other hand, Takaichi has received praise for her measured response even as she stiffened visibly over Trump’s comments at the joint press conference in the Oval Office on Thursday.
In response to a question from a Japanese reporter about Washington’s failure to tell its allies before its February 28 attack on Iran, Trump replied: “We wanted a surprise. Who knows better about surprises than Japan. Why didn’t you tell me a..

AdvertisementJapanThis Week in AsiaLifestyle & CultureIn greying Japan, killings of parents by elderly children spur soul-searchingTwo cases of victims aged 100 and 102 killed by their children aged above 70 have highlighted the challenges faced by elderly carers
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPJulian RyallPublished: 10:00am, 3 Dec 2025Masato Watabe made no effort to hide the killing. A little over an hour after he held his hand over his victim’s mouth until she was no longer breathing, he called the emergency services. Taken into custody, 79-year-old Watabe admitted to police that he alone was to blame for her death.
Instead of blanket condemnation, however, Watabe has attracted sympathy in Japan, which is struggling to come up with solutions to a rapidly ageing population and growing pressure on families to take care of the elderly and infirm.“I killed my mother,” police quoted Watabe as saying. “I held her mouth. I was too tired from caring for her.
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