CPP Investments Commits ₹70 Billion to CtrlS Data Center Partnership in India
CPP Investments has committed up to ₹70 billion to Indian data center operator CtrlS, combining a direct equity investment with a new joint venture for hyperscale campuses. The partnership will…
India Temporarily Blocks Telegram Ahead of NEET Medical Entrance Re-Test
India has temporarily blocked Telegram nationwide until June 22 after authorities said fraud groups were using the messaging platform to target students before a major medical entrance examination. The restriction…
Respond.io Raises $62.5 Million to Expand AI Messaging Platform Globally
Respond.io has raised $62.5 million in Series B funding as the Malaysia-based company expands its AI-powered customer conversation platform into North America and Europe. Camber Partners led the round, with…
Starbucks Korea to Close Stores Early for History Training After ‘Tank Day’ Campaign
Starbucks Korea will close all its stores early on June 22 so employees can attend mandatory training on South Korean history and social sensitivity. The action follows public criticism of…
Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rate to 31-Year High of 1%
The Bank of Japan has raised its policy interest rate from 0.75% to around 1%, the highest level since 1995. The increase follows a rise in global energy prices and…
Sarvam Raises $234 Million at $1.5 Billion Valuation
Indian artificial intelligence company Sarvam has raised $234 million in the first close of a planned $300 million Series B round, valuing the Bengaluru-based company at $1.5 billion. The funding…
India’s Wild Agave Creates New Income And Production Opportunities
Wild agave growing across India’s Deccan Plateau is becoming a source of income for farmers and a raw material for the country’s small but growing agave-based drinks industry. Masapalli Venkatesh…
Netflix Expands Mobile App And Kids’ Games Across Asia-Pacific
Netflix is expanding its refreshed mobile app across Asia-Pacific and adding new children’s games through Netflix Playground. The company outlined the updates during its APAC Product Innovation Showcase, where it…
82 Killed In China’s Worst Coal Mining Disaster In Over 15 Years As Safety Violations Linger
A blast at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi on May 22 killed 82 people and injured more than 120, marking China’s worst coal mining disaster in over 15 years…
Shibuya Introduces On-the-Spot 2,000 Yen Littering Fines As Japan Tackles Overtourism
Litterbugs in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward now face on-the-spot fines of 2,000 yen (about $13) under a new penalty system that took effect Monday, amid Japan’s record tourism boom. Up to…
Delhi High Court Holds Google Liable For Trademark Infringement In Keyword Advertising
The Delhi High Court ruled on May 22 that Google’s AdWords platform infringed Hindware’s trademark by allowing competitors to bid on the brand name as a keyword, and awarded ₹3…
Chinese Carmakers Take Lead As Foreign Brands Lose Ground In EVs Software And Batteries
Chinese automakers are pulling ahead in electric vehicles, batteries, design, and software, forcing US, European and Japanese manufacturers to rethink partnerships and production strategies. Factory visits in Beijing and Hefei…
China Imposes Travel Curbs On Top AI Talent And Tightens Capital Controls
The Chinese government has begun requiring some leading AI researchers, startup founders, and private-sector executives to seek approval before traveling abroad, according to Bloomberg, effectively narrowing opportunities for international movement.…
Indian farmers turn to custard apple exports as demand rises
Ashoka Shivareddy and other farmers in India are expanding custard apple production and exports by using hardier varieties, better post-harvest handling, and cold-chain logistics to turn a drought-tolerant crop into…
Indian firms step up overseas deals as Sun Pharma’s $11.75bn Organon buy tops a rising wave
Sun Pharmaceuticals agreed to buy New York‑listed Organon & Co. for $11.75 billion in late April, marking the largest outbound acquisition by an Indian company in nearly two decades and…
Mumbai Comedian Relates Eight Hour Digital Arrest Extortion Ordeal
Mumbai-based stand-up comedian Ankita Shrivastav lost 900,000 rupees ($9,300) to cybercriminals during an eight-hour psychological extortion incident that she publicly disclosed through a YouTube comedy sketch. The fraudulent encounter initiated…
Suspected Cybercrime Ringleader Extradited To South Korea Over Multi Million Dollar Hacking Heist
A forty-year-old Chinese national accused of leading an international hacking ring that targeted high-profile individuals, including BTS vocalist Jungkook, has been extradited from Thailand to South Korea. The Seoul Justice…
Starbucks Korea Fires Chief Executive Following Public Outrage Over Controversial Tumbler Campaign
Shinsegae Group dismissed Starbucks Korea Chief Executive Officer Sohn Jeong-hyun following public backlash over a marketing campaign launched on the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. The promotional initiative, which…
Postwar Reforestation Policies Trigger Seasonal Health Crisis In Japan
An estimated 43% of the Japanese population is experiencing medium to severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis due to vast quantities of airborne pollen generated by mature, human-made evergreen forests. The…
Hotel Check-In Platform Exposed More Than 1 Million Passport And ID Records Online
A hotel check-in platform used by several hotels in Japan exposed more than 1 million sensitive customer records, including passports, driver’s licenses, and selfie verification photos, after a cloud storage…