Japanese multinational conglomerate spanning tech, energy, transport
Nvidia has deepened its push in Japan, signing deals with leading manufacturers to build a homegrown “physical AI” stack for factories, robots and vehicles. Tokyo will invest up to 1 trillion yen over five years as it coordinates with firms like Fanuc, Sony and Hitachi to create domestically developed AI for industry, with Nvidia supplying hardware and model support. Projects range from edge-running Cosmos 3 Edge to lab collaborations and drug-discovery initiatives.
The bank holiday weekend is marked by widespread rail disruption due to a Birmingham power outage affecting CrossCountry’s control centre. Plans for a near-normal service on Monday are in flux as rail routes face cancellations, rail replacement buses are in place, and tickets remain valid across operators amid disruption.
Thameslink trains will receive upgraded seat cushions, backrests and tables over two years from 2027 as part of the post-nationalisation rail improvements. The move follows Govia Thameslink Railwayalling under public ownership earlier this year.
Liverpool city region has begun bringing bus services back under public control, starting in St Helens. Fares stay capped at £2, and the network aims to increase frequency, improve evening and weekend services, and better connect hospitals and rail links.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has raised national-security concerns about Ford’s ties to Chinese battery tech and plans with Geely in Spain, prompting political and regulatory scrutiny. Ford defends its approach, while lawmakers press for clarity on independence from Chinese tech.
Liverpool has secured a five-year shirt sponsorship with Turkish Airlines from June 2027, replacing Standard Chartered. The deal, worth in excess of £60 million per season, makes Turkish Airlines the main club partner on the front of shirts for men’s, women’s and academy teams, with Standard Chartered moving to global partner status. The deal is set to be one of the most lucrative in Premier League history.
Bessemer raises $5.75B across two funds to back AI-native ventures, while Ema secures a fresh $? funding and Spellbook hires a new CMO as legal AI tools gain traction. The legal-tech and enterprise AI markets are consolidating as investors push for AI-enabled workflows.