**Popular audio content is experiencing a resurgence**, exemplified by podcasts achieving over a billion monthly views on YouTube and garnering significant attention at SXSW. Meanwhile, **China is strategically strengthening its position in the robotics industry** by focusing on manufacturing crucial components for humanoid robots, aiming to compete with established European and Japanese players in a massive market. In global commerce, **Japanese air conditioning companies like Daikin are expanding into India**, targeting a market with low penetration rates and emphasizing energy-efficient, affordable solutions. Finally, **international money transfers are poised for a significant acceleration in Japan**, with Wise set to integrate with the nationwide banking system, potentially reducing transfer times to under 20 seconds by late 2025.