Mitsubishi Electric keeps appliance unit, citing strategic fit over Hitachi’s spin‑off
Mitsubishi Electric announced on 12 May that it will retain its home‑appliance division, rejecting rumours that it would follow Hitachi’s recent sale of its own appliance arm to a private equity fund. The decision, taken...
Vietnam’s F88 fintech platform pushes pawnshop industry onto the stock market
F88, a Vietnam‑based fintech firm, completed a historic initial public offering on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on 14 May, marking the first time a pawnshop‑focused lender has been listed in the country. The IPO r...
Panasonic’s EV battery plant delayed again as key automaker order stalls
Panasonic announced on 13 May that the start‑up of its new electric‑vehicle (EV) battery factory in Osaka Prefecture has been pushed back to early 2027, after a crucial supply contract with a major automaker failed to ma...
Japanese space startups launch training programme for engineers from India, Philippines and Indonesia
On 11 May, a coalition of Japanese space‑technology startups announced a joint initiative to train 200 engineers from India, the Philippines and Indonesia over the next two years. The programme, funded by the Japan Aeros...
Supreme Court stays Sringeri recount decision, restores Raje Gowda as MLA
On May 11, a bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar ordered a stay on the Sringeri recount result, thereby reinstating Congress leader Raje Gowda as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Sring...
Japan’s ambassador to Britain, Hiroshi Suzuki, becomes viral sensation for his enthusiastic promotion of UK culture
Japan’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hiroshi Suzuki, has captured the British public’s imagination after a series of light‑hearted videos showcasing his attempts to sing the Welsh national anthem and mimic regional ...
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauds ‘indestructible’ Sanatan culture
On May 11, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath delivered a public address in which he praised the resilience of Sanatan (eternal) culture, declaring that those who attempted to erase it have turned to dust. The ...
Himachal Pradesh ties officials' performance to anti‑drug outreach in schools
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on May 11 that district collectors (DCs) and senior police officers (SPs) will have their performance ratings linked to the success of drug‑prevention prog...
Kevin Warsh clears Senate hurdle, poised to lead Federal Reserve amid independence debate
Republican Senator Kevin Warsh cleared a key Senate committee vote on May 11, moving him closer to confirmation as the next Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve. The vote, held by the Senate Banking Committee, saw Warsh rec...
AI‑generated deep‑fake videos accuse Singapore of ‘ungratefulness’ to China, sparking disinformation debate
A series of Chinese‑language videos circulated on Douyin and WeChat in early May appear to berate Singapore for “ungrateful” treatment of China and for aligning with the United States. Digital‑forensics experts from the ...
Report claims Pakistan housed Iranian aircraft to evade U.S. strikes, Iran also moved planes to Afghanistan
A report published on May 11 alleges that Pakistan secretly parked Iranian military and civilian aircraft on its airbases to protect them from anticipated U.S. airstrikes, while Iran similarly relocated civilian planes t...
Pakistan to issue first yuan‑denominated “panda” bond, aiming to raise up to $250 million in Chinese market
Pakistan announced on May 11 that it will issue its inaugural panda bond – a yuan‑denominated debt instrument sold by foreign entities on China’s on‑shore market – with a target raise of up to US$250 million. Finance Min...
India’s Jaishankar inaugurates Jaipur Foot prosthetic centre in Trinidad, calls it a ‘gift of mobility’
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled the Jaipur Foot Prosthetics Centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on May 9, marking the first such facility in the Caribbean. The centre, established by the non‑profit Jaipur...
Final evacuation flights from hantavirus‑afflicted cruise ship land in the Netherlands
Two Dutch‑operated evacuation aircraft carrying 28 passengers, crew members and medical staff from a cruise ship plagued by a hantavirus outbreak touched down at Schiphol Airport on May 11, according to the Dutch Foreign...
U.S. Treasury imposes fresh sanctions on entities aiding Iran’s oil shipments to China
On May 11, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a new round of sanctions targeting individuals and firms that facilitate the transfer of Iranian crude oil to China. The measures, which build on sanctions announced on M...
Bangkok-Based Gourmet Mushroom Startup Gains Traction
A Bangkok startup specializing in premium edible mushrooms has attracted investors and expanded distribution across Thailand’s high‑end restaurants and supermarkets. The company leverages local climate and sustainable fa...
Sony Group Turns to Artificial Intelligence to Drive Next‑Gen Gaming
Sony’s CEO announced that the conglomerate will heavily invest in AI technologies to enhance game development, personalization, and interactive experiences, positioning AI as a central pillar of Sony’s future gaming stra...
Data‑Heavy Future: DNA‑Based Storage and Diamond Chips Highlight Global Data Surge
A feature explores emerging technologies such as DNA data‑storage cassettes and diamond‑based semiconductors as possible solutions to the exploding volume of digital information worldwide. Experts discuss the technical c...
Vietnam Launches Massive Capital Renewal Project to Revitalize Hanoi
The Vietnamese government unveiled a large‑scale urban renewal plan for the capital city, aiming to modernize infrastructure, attract investment, and boost economic growth through new districts, transport upgrades, and g...
Two LNG tankers transit Hormuz en route to Japan and China amid global shortage
Two LNG vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz heading for Japan and China, underscoring the continued use of the key shipping lane despite a worldwide LNG shortage. Nikkei Asia notes that while deliveries are proce...