☕️ Good morning, friends,

Unlike everyone else out there, we refuse as a serious media outlet to report on Trump every single day.

But it is fascinating to watch how world leaders are trying to win his heart. South Korea’s President Lee gave it a shot with handcrafted “MAGA” cowboy hats and a custom-made golf club (Made in South Korea).

Our comment: “There’s no accounting for taste.”

Trump’s comment: “Now all I need is a Trump Tower in Pyongyang. Then I can play golf there too.”

We’ll be sure to report live from the construction site.

BENCHMARKS

NUMBER OF THE DAY

200,000 USD

Japan raises the capital threshold for entrepreneur visas to this amount, a sixfold increase from current requirements starting October 2025.

💼 Tightened Requirements: Besides 30 million yen in capital, founders now need three years of management experience or a master's degree, plus one full-time employee and an approved business plan.

📊 Rapid Growth: Over 40,000 entrepreneurs currently use the visa, 50 percent more than five years ago.

Watch: The reform aims for more professional ventures and better oversight, as many entrepreneurs are suspected of exploiting the current system with shell companies. However, experts warn the high barriers could deter legitimate startups.

TOP BIT

🧱 Super Cool Cement: Breakthrough Against Urban Heat

A research team from Southeast University in Nanjing, the University of Chicago, and Purdue University in Indiana has developed a cement that passively cools buildings.

It reflects sunlight and releases heat in the infrared spectrum. In field tests, the surface stayed up to 5.4 °C cooler than the surrounding air under strong sun, and around 26 °C cooler than conventional cement. The material is durable, inexpensive to produce, and can be applied as a coating or used directly in construction. It could reduce the need for air conditioning, ease the load on power grids, and help cut urban heat.

The Details

🌡️ How It Works: Special surface crystals and pore structures reflect …