A Decade On, Has Japan's Corporate Revolution Worked Too Well?

Japan wanted change in its corporate sector. It got it — for better or worse.
A decade on from the introduction of the country's first Corporate Governance Code, there's so much M&A activity in Tokyo these days that it's tough to even keep track. From private equity to activist investors to consolidation among companies fearful they'll be targeted next, no acquisition seems beyond the pale.

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Miami Herald

an hour ago

• Miami Herald

Jamba Juice smoothies are $1 for one day only. Here's when and what to know

Your next Jamba Juice run could cost just a dollar. On Saturday, June 21, customers can get a 16-ounce Mango-A-Go-Go or Strawberry Whirl smoothie for $1 to celebrate National Smoothie Day, according to the smoothie and juice chain. The offer is valid in-store from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at participating locations nationwide, while supplies last, according to Jamba's website. No additional purchase is required. 'National Smoothie Day allows us to celebrate our loyal fans and connect with our communities by boosting their day through delicious smoothies,' Nathan Louer, chief brand officer at Jamba, said in a news release. The Mango-A-Go-Go smoothie blends 'flavors of mango and pineapple,' while the Strawberry Whirl is a twist on the classic strawberry banana smoothie, according to Jamba's website. The $1 smoothies are limited to one per person and can't be combined with other offers, the juice bar said. Drive-thru and kiosk locations are excluded. Additional information wasn't immediately available. Find your nearest Jamba Juice here.

Forbes

an hour ago

• Forbes

Where Do Sustainability, Affordability Sit In Pursuit Of Smart Cities?

Conceptual Image of a Smart City getty The concept of smart cities has risen in the estimation of urban planners of all descriptions around the world. Many believe or are led to believe a future smart city or an existing one that's so remodelled would enhance affordability and sustainability. But will it? To answer that, grasping the concept first should be the right starting point. In that respect, if assertions by the likes of Microsoft and IBM are taken at face value, a smart city is one that utilizes digital information and communication technology to enhance various aspects of urban life, from infrastructure to public services, citizen engagement to city tax receipts. This may involve using artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and more, to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, and the overall quality of life for city dwellers. But will it? There are legitimate fears that AI is, might be, redesigning our cities by stealth from real-team adjustable traffic lights to computer generated digital twins mimicking what whole neighborhoods would potentially look like before even a single brick has been laid. Furthermore, all that kit and its deployment can't be cheap and someone has to pay for it, cue the taxpayer. The concept of smart cities came to fore at the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, held in the Emirate from June 17 to 18, 2025, and evoked mixed emotions from attendees albeit with numerous examples of successes. For instance, Singapore's holistic balance of economic growth and social inclusivity, or Copenhagen's Nordhavn district's 5-minute city model, or for that matter Abu Dhabi's own Masdar City which balances heritage, innovation and sustainability, given it is backed by the Emirate's global renewable energy champion Masdar. Such innovative cities claim to promote a strong sense of place and identity for their residents and community. But their affluence in many ways sets them apart too. Can their experience and inexorable march to 'smarter' ways be replicated elsewhere? The answer is a complex one, according to Daniel Liu, executive director of MORROW Intelligence, a Singapore-based urban advisory firm. Daniel Liu, executive director, MORROW Intelligence speaks at the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit in ... More the UAE on June 18, 2025. ADIS 'Smart technologies that bring efficiencies are of immense importance and they are all very important evolutions of city management. But smart cities don't come before cities," Liu said at summit panel. "These are cities with their individual socioeconomic and investment parameters and critical municipal issues that need to be resolved. So, not all urban planners enjoy some of the advantages that say Singapore or Copenhagen would.' Liu added that if the ultimate goal of planners and developers was urban excellence, it is something that doesn't exist in a vacuum. 'Issues of economic and social development cannot be sidestepped. This will likely be a journey of over 30 to 50 years marked by evolving challenges for many cities in the world.' Smart Decisions Needed Too Discovering urban excellence, and a smarter future, might in many cases bottle down to making smart decisions and not just smart technology, said Emre Arolat, founding partner and principal, Emre Arolat Architecture. 'The best cities are those with a sense of community and harmony where there's access to housing, and perhaps the ability to reach life's essentials within a 15 minute walk or a bicycle ride, if not 5 minutes as noted in Danish city. That's a reasonable metric already at play in many urban centers, (e.g. some suburbs in Paris) and its down to smart thinking and building.' Affordable housing needs to be at the heart of it all and its something that can never be ignored. 'But building affordable housing doesn't mean you have to sacrifice building high value real estate or vice versa if planners work on concepts strategically,' he added. And local, provincial or Federal governments around the world can be the arbiters of where future demand may or may not be, so that the challenge can be met in a systematic way, even if the planning and decision making stage is aided by the deployment of digital tools. Asma Aljassmi, executive director of projects control and operations, Aldar Projects, speaks at the ... More Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit on June 18, 2025. ADIS Even desirable affluent places like Abu Dhabi think of affordable housing, according to Asma Aljassmi, executive director of projects control and operations, at Aldar Projects, a developer owned by the government of Abu Dhabi. 'At Aldar we have a clear roadmap for development. From the get-go we incorporate affordability in what we do, what we design and what be build. Its included in our masterplan for specific projects. Being desirable places to live and work in should not be the sole preserve of luxury developments.' Powering Up Smart Cities With there being rising clamor for sustainability, the carbon footprint of the smart cities will also be called into sharp focus. The more digital and connected they are, the more electricity they'll consume, and the bigger the call might be on the power grids servicing them. Quite like the data center conundrum of powering new age technology and consumer needs with fossil fuels has already reared its head. For, just like hyperscale data centers will be increasingly serviced by power generated from natural gas for decades, so will smart cities for a considerable amount of time. Therefore, any lowering of the carbon footprint achieve via digital connectivity and efficiency might well be negated by carbon emissions from the chosen power source. Abu Dhabi's renewables-powered Masdar City offers a rare example to the contrary, alongside many European, especially Scandinavian and German mid-sized townships. But renewables-powered smart cities largely remain a pipe dream. This matters, because cities represent nearly 80% of the world's consumption, and by that argument nearly 80% of the world's carbon emissions. It is also indicative of the fact that urbanization is proliferating and is unlikely to be reversed. So, the fight against climate change as well as improving living standards probably would be won or lost in the cities, whether they are smart cities or not. The significance of the task ahead cannot be understated.

Yahoo

an hour ago

• Yahoo

LegalBison Establishes Southeast Asia Presence with New Malaysian Office

New Kuala Lumpur office strengthens LegalBison's regional reach and enhances regulatory support across Asia. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 20, 2025) - LegalBison, a global regulatory advisory firm specializing in the FinTech and crypto sectors, has officially opened its new office in Kuala Lumpur, marking the company's first physical expansion into Asia and reinforcing its long-term growth strategy in emerging financial markets. LegalBison To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: This milestone follows the success of LegalBison's European headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia, and represents a strategic effort to better serve clients throughout Southeast Asia-including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and beyond. "Availability for international clients has always been one of LegalBison's key strengths," said Sabir Alijev, Chief Product Officer at LegalBison. "With our new presence in Malaysia, we now have a bird's-eye view of the local regulatory landscape and are ready to deliver timely, regionally tailored solutions." Kuala Lumpur was selected for its robust regulatory institutions, economic stability, and position as a rising hub for digital finance in Asia. Establishing operations in Malaysia allows LegalBison to deepen relationships with local partners and clients while offering more agile support in licensing, AML/KYC compliance, cross-border banking, and corporate structuring. LegalBison's move reflects the growing demand for localized compliance expertise in Asia's fast-evolving financial landscape. The Malaysian team will collaborate closely with LegalBison's Estonia office to provide seamless advisory services across time zones, ensuring clients benefit from both global perspective and local insight. By anchoring its Asia-Pacific strategy in Kuala Lumpur, LegalBison positions itself as a trusted partner to startups, growth-stage firms, and enterprises navigating complex cross-border regulatory environments. LegalBison is now actively onboarding clients across Southeast Asia and is open to strategic partnerships throughout the region and globally. For media inquiries or more information, please visit or contact pr@ About LegalBison Founded in 2020, LegalBison is a regulatory and legal advisory firm headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia. The firm supports companies in the FinTech, crypto, and high-compliance sectors with services including licensing, compliance, banking solutions, and international corporate structuring. LegalBison provides tailored, cross-border support to help businesses navigate complex regulatory environments worldwide. Media Contact LegalBison PR Teampr@ 20 4577 To view the source version of this press release, please visit