☕️ Good morning, friends,

This week we start by shaking our heads at our Swiss friends. Watchmaker Swatch had to pull an ad campaign after accusations of racism.

We’re not exactly sensitive, but if you think publishing images like that in China is a good idea, then you deserve the backlash. What do you think?

P.S. Our reader Carl B. sent us this feedback:

Thanks to all of you! Messages like this sweeten our week to a very high percentage. So keep recommending asiabits 👇🏻

BENCHMARKS

NUMBER OF THE DAY

30,000

That’s how many African students Japan plans to train in artificial intelligence over the next three years to accelerate the digital transformation of manufacturing and agriculture across the continent.

🌍 International collaboration: The Matsuo Lab at the University of Tokyo will run additional courses at 20–30 local universities, after delivering an intensive two-day lecture at the University of Cape Town in South Africa in July.

🚀 Future-focused education: Japan aims to foster AI development across Africa, boosting competitiveness and innovation in multiple sectors, especially manufacturing and agriculture.

Watch: Japan is going all in on AI and investing heavily in talent and infrastructure. The Nikkei at a record high, with SoftBank’s AI strategy as a driving force, reinforces this course; public-private partnerships with risk guarantees and co-financed funds are accelerating scaling in Africa and at home.

TOP BIT

🧋 How Bubble Tea Is Outpacing Starbucks

What started as a playful drink has turned into a global business. Chinese brands are raising billions on the stock market, opening stores at record speed, and even putting pressure on giants like Starbucks.

The Details

🧋 Billion-dollar market: The global bubble tea market stood at around…