| Hello. My name is Kona Masui. I run the Financial Times Schools Programme in Japan and I have curated this week’s edition of FT Schools Digest. As cherry blossoms fall, Japan’s academic year comes into bloom — and so too does our collaboration with secondary schools, where students and teachers are given complimentary access to the FT. In particular, I’ve been inspired by Japanese students engaging with FT Journalism to improve their English, approaching it not merely as language practice, but as a way of turning language into thought. 1. Japan cracks down on its wayward cyclists Since reading through the new rules, I have found myself being more careful than expected, reassessing everyday habits from ringing bicycle bells to carrying shopping bags which now falling firmly into the category of “things not to get wrong.” With fines applying from the age of 16 (although you must be 18 to drive), the changes raise a broader question about how familiar are younger cyclists — particularly students — with the road rules they are now expected to follow. 2. China shock 2.0: the flood of high-tech goods that will change the world China’s high-tech manufacturing sector is experiencing intense competition and falling prices, driven by rapid expansion and domestic rivalry. This is fuelling a surge of cheap exports, putting pressure on manufacturers in Europe and beyond. It feels as though there is a shift from industry competition to something with much broader global impact. 3. Oil proceed soar above $100 a barrel as hope fades of end to Iran war Oil prices rose above $100 after US-Iran talks collapsed and tensions escalated over a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Traders priced in the risk of disruption to a key global energy route, which carries around a fifth of global oil and LNG. Analysts warned that even the threat of escalation could keep prices elevated and heighten broader supply risks. 4. Meta builds AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to interact with staff Meta is taking “founder-led” to a new level by building an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to interact with employees. It’s a slightly surreal version of corporate life, in which your next one-on-one might be with a very realistic, endlessly available version of your boss. 5. The pope versus the president: how Leo became Trump’s fearless foe When Pope Leo XIVV tells Donald Trump to rethink war and morality, it’s less a spat and more a reminder that soft power can still bite. The real story isn’t the clash itself, but how a moral voice is stepping into a political vacuum — and actually being heard. Why ‘glue work’ can finally shine in the age of AI “Glue-work” is the behind the scenes co-ordination and problem-solving that keeps teams running, but has usually been undervalued compared with core technical skills. AI is starting to flip that, as co-ordination and context become more important when routine tasks get automated. The country that can’t say no to Trump
Tokyo is in need of a plan B to dependence on the US. There may not be one We welcome teachers selecting FT articles and adding questions. Please send them to [email protected] or fill in this form | | | | Articles selected by our teacher advisers with suggested questions | | | 
