Toho Zinc reports profit growth amid various tech and space updates

Toho Zinc reported a 20% increase in operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026, returning to profitability despite flat revenue. The growth was driven by rising metal prices and asset sales rather than increased business volume. While the company's ROE reached 40.4%, this figure is influenced by low equity capital, which remains significantly below the industry median.

In logistics technology, Sanki Engineering Co., Ltd. has developed a “shelf-less” automated warehouse system. The system allows for direct stacking of storage cases, reducing required space by approximately 30% compared to traditional models. It is designed for small-scale implementation in areas as small as 30 square meters and can be installed in facilities with ceiling heights as low as 2.5 meters.

Regarding mobile security, Android 17 will introduce several privacy enhancements. These include the implementation of Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) to hide connection destinations, “Local Network Protection” to restrict app access to home devices, and improved defenses against 2G-based SMS phishing attacks by allowing carriers to disable 2G connections by default.

On Mars, NASA’s Perseverance rover captured footage of a solar eclipse caused by the moon Phobos on August 12, 2026. Scientists use these observations to better understand Phobos's orbit as it gradually approaches the planet.