Introduction Japan’s confectionery industry is entering a new phase of consolidation as rising costs, labor shortages, and shifting consumer demand push wholesalers to rethink scale and efficiency. In a move that reshapes the competitive landscape, Itochu Corporation and Yamae Group Holdings have announced the integration of their confectionery wholesale businesses. The deal is not simply about size. It reflects a deeper strategy built around logistics reform, data integration, and technology-driven decision-making, all aimed at capturing growth in a market that continues to expand despite economic pressures.

Introduction Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Mobile banking, e-government platforms, cloud services, and artificial intelligence are reshaping economies and public services across the continent. But this rapid progress comes with a darker shadow. Cybercrime is expanding just as fast, exploiting weak infrastructure, fragmented laws, and uneven cybersecurity expertise. Against this backdrop, Afripol is stepping forward, positioning itself as a central force in unifying African law enforcement to confront a borderless and highly adaptive cyber threat.

Introduction: A Brand That Refuses to Die The name “Twitter” was supposed to fade into history after Elon Musk’s dramatic rebrand of the platform to X. The blue bird was removed, the logo replaced, and the company publicly declared its intention to move on. Yet, in late 2024, the Twitter brand returned to the center of attention—not because of a comeback engineered by X itself, but because a startup tried to claim it.

Introduction: A Demolition Crisis Shaking Nigeria’s Capital The ongoing demolition of houses across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ignited national outrage, emotional debate, and political blame games. Since Nyesom Wike assumed office as FCT Minister, bulldozers have moved swiftly through informal and allegedly illegal settlements, leaving thousands displaced and sparking accusations of oppression, insensitivity, and selective enforcement. While public anger has largely been directed at Wike himself, a new perspective has emerged from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), one of Northern Nigeria’s most influential socio-political bodies.

Introduction: A Clash Between Influence, Power, and Public Perception A dramatic online confrontation between controversial social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), and billionaire crypto trader Linus Williams, widely called Blord, has taken a new turn following reports of Blord’s detention by Nigerian police. What began as a dispute over customer service and online criticism has evolved into a national conversation about influence, accountability, and the blurred line between activism and personal vendettas.

Introduction Apple is exploring a strategic expansion in India, signaling a potential shift in its global supply chain strategy. With preliminary discussions underway with local semiconductor companies, Apple could soon begin assembling key iPhone components in India. This move aligns with India’s broader push to become a major hub for electronics manufacturing and high-tech production, positioning the country as a crucial player in the global semiconductor ecosystem.

FamilyMart, Japan’s popular convenience store chain, announced on December 17th the upcoming launch of “FamiFes 2025”, a festival dedicated to immersive entertainment experiences. Hosted at a private venue in Tokyo’s bustling Shibuya district, the event invites attendees to explore interactive activities ranging from customized fan merchandise creation to arcade-style gaming. The initiative highlights FamilyMart’s growing focus on leveraging intellectual property (IP) to expand into entertainment services.

The Taiwan stock market continued its downward slide for the third consecutive session on the 17th, reflecting broad weakness in global semiconductor stocks. The benchmark TAIEX Index closed slightly lower, ending the day at 27,525.17, down 11.49 points, or 0.04% from the previous close. This modest decline masked investor caution driven by falling U.S. semiconductor shares, especially as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) weakened in the prior session, dragging major Taiwan chipmakers, including TSMC, into negative territory.

The cybercrime landscape continues to darken as the notorious “Handala” ransomware group has reportedly claimed a new victim. On December 17, 2025, ThreatMon’s Threat Intelligence Team detected the addition of Caught by the Octopus: Bennett’s Darkest Hour to Handala’s growing list of targets. This incident underscores the persistent threats posed by ransomware actors exploiting vulnerabilities in high-profile digital content and systems.

Introduction: A New Power Alliance in Artificial Intelligence The global artificial intelligence race may be entering a new phase as Amazon quietly explores a massive investment in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. According to reports, discussions between the two technology giants could lead to a deal valuing OpenAI at more than $500 billion, signaling just how central AI has become to the future of cloud computing, enterprise software, and consumer technology.

Introduction: A Trust-Abusing Campaign Inside Government Walls A newly uncovered cyber-espionage operation highlights how modern phishing no longer relies on obvious deception but instead weaponizes trust itself. In early September 2025, researchers observed a stealthy spear-phishing campaign aimed at a Colombian government agency, executed with precision and deep knowledge of enterprise defenses. By abusing compromised internal email accounts and chaining together multiple fileless techniques, the attackers demonstrated how threat actors are evolving faster than traditional security controls—especially inside public-sector environments.

Introduction Amazon’s relationship with Luxembourg has long symbolized stability, growth, and strategic influence within Europe. That image is now being tested. In a move that reflects deeper structural changes inside the global tech industry, Amazon is preparing its largest-ever workforce reduction at its European headquarters in Luxembourg. The decision arrives at a moment when artificial intelligence is no longer a future promise, but an operational reality reshaping how companies build software, manage costs, and define human labor.

A New Tesla Narrative Takes Shape Tesla’s stock has entered a new chapter, one that feels fundamentally different from its past rallies driven by vehicle deliveries or pricing tweaks. This time, the surge is tied to autonomy. On Tuesday, Tesla shares closed at an all-time high of $489.88, capping a more than 3 percent daily gain and surpassing the previous record close of $479.86.

A New Chapter in Apple’s Global Manufacturing Shift Apple’s long, carefully calculated move away from single-country dependency appears to be entering a new phase. Beyond assembling iPhones in India, the company is now reportedly exploring whether parts of its semiconductor supply chain could also take root there. If true, this would mark a quiet but meaningful evolution in how Apple distributes risk, power, and production across the global tech landscape.

Introduction For years, Russia’s infamous Sandworm group built its reputation on destructive zero-day exploits and headline-grabbing cyber sabotage. But the threat landscape is changing. Instead of burning rare vulnerabilities, Sandworm is now quietly abusing something far more common and far more dangerous: misconfigured edge devices. Routers, VPN gateways, and network appliances—often overlooked, rarely monitored, and poorly secured—have become the new frontline.

Introduction: Engineering Space on Earth Building technology meant to function in the absolute vacuum of space is a paradox. Engineers must first recreate nothingness inside a laboratory filled with air, heat, and gravity. Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based space technology company, has turned this paradox into its core strength. Operating from the Indian Institute of Science campus, the firm has built one of the most advanced private propulsion laboratories in the world, capable of simulating the harsh, particle-free environment hundreds of kilometres above Earth.

Introduction: Inside the First Minutes of a Cyber Crisis When a cyberattack slams into a large organisation, the impact is immediate and visceral. Screens lag, alerts multiply, systems behave unpredictably and decision-making collapses under pressure. In those early moments, there is no clean narrative, only fragments of information and a rising sense of urgency. For cybersecurity leaders who have lived through these events, the experience is not theoretical.

Introduction: A Semiconductor Industry Entering a Defining Moment Tokyo has once again become the focal point of the global semiconductor ecosystem. As artificial intelligence reshapes computing, manufacturing, and industrial strategy, the technologies that power AI are now under unprecedented pressure to evolve faster, scale larger, and perform better. Against this backdrop, SEMICON Japan 2025 opens its doors at a historic scale, reflecting both the urgency and the ambition of an industry standing at a strategic crossroads.

Introduction Digital conversations are moving faster than ever, but not every moment is ideal for pressing play on a voice note. Meetings, public transport, noisy streets, or even personal preference often make listening inconvenient. Recognizing this everyday friction, WhatsApp has quietly introduced a feature that turns voice messages into readable text. Highlighted in The Times of India’s “Hack of the Day” series, this tool focuses on one promise only: saving time, reducing stress, and making communication more flexible without sacrificing privacy.

The American cost-of-living squeeze is becoming impossible to ignore. Despite steady wage gains, rising prices are eating up much of the progress workers are making, leaving households struggling to maintain their standard of living. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other economic indicators paint a stark picture: for many Americans, raises are not keeping pace with inflation, and the broader economic conditions may make relief slow to arrive.

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Introduction: A Small Feature That Solves a Big Group Chat Problem WhatsApp group chats have become essential spaces for work, communities, families, and large interest-based discussions. Yet as groups grow, clarity often disappears. Users repeatedly ask the same questions: Who is the admin? Who handles support? Who is responsible for this topic? With its latest iOS update, WhatsApp is addressing this long-standing pain point.

Christmas in Kerala is more than a date on the calendar. It is a feeling, a scent, a shared memory, and for countless families across the state, that festive essence begins with a Pandhal plum cake. Since 1984, Pandhal Cake Shop has quietly become the custodian of Kerala’s Christmas traditions, turning baked goods into symbols of celebration, nostalgia, and togetherness. Every December, as red-and-green boxes are opened and the aroma of rum-soaked fruits and warm spices fills the air, it signals that Christmas has truly arrived.

The world of cybercrime continues to evolve, and a fresh incident has emerged in the ransomware landscape. On December 16, 2025, at 21:28 UTC +3, the threat intelligence team at ThreatMon detected that the notorious ransomware group Sinobi has allegedly added AIRCOND S.R.L. to its growing list of victims. This latest attack underscores the persistent threat ransomware poses to companies worldwide, highlighting vulnerabilities even among established enterprises.

Introduction On December 16, 2025, Italian engineering firm ELC Electroconsult SpA became the latest high‑profile victim of a ransomware attack that has sent shockwaves through Europe’s industrial and infrastructure sectors. According to early reports from cybersecurity monitoring outlets, the threat actor known as Everest breached Electroconsult’s systems, exfiltrating sensitive operational data and disrupting key project workflows across Italy. This breach not only highlights the persistent dangers facing critical engineering and infrastructure companies but also raises urgent questions about how well these organizations are prepared to defend against increasingly sophisticated cybercrime syndicates.