South Korea has announced the creation of a $34 billion policy fund to support companies in key industries such as semiconductors, automotive, and advanced technologies, in response to growing global competition and protectionist policies.
The state-run Korea Development Bank will manage the fund by providing low-interest loans and other financial support over the next five years to businesses involved in national strategic industries.
The government stressed that maintaining competitiveness in these strategic sectors has become crucial to the country’s economic security, particularly amid the uncertainties caused by the new US administration.
South Korea has identified 12 industries, including semiconductors, AI, and biopharmaceuticals, as critical for its future economic stability and will offer targeted financial support to strengthen these sectors.
In addition to the fund, South Korea also unveiled new policies to attract skilled global talent in cutting-edge fields. These measures include offering top-tier visas and permanent residency to professionals with experience at major international firms, aiming to enhance the country’s workforce in strategic industries.
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Vietnam‘s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed officials to fast-track approval for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service under a pilot programme.
Speaking to US business representatives in Hanoi, Chinh highlighted the country’s commitment to attracting foreign investment while maintaining control over key sectors. Vietnam recently adjusted its regulations to allow satellite internet providers to operate locally under strict government oversight.
Alongside discussions on Starlink, Chinh addressed Vietnam’s growing trade surplus with the United States.
The Southeast Asian nation, which recorded a record trade surplus last year, is under pressure to increase imports of American goods such as aircraft, arms, liquefied natural gas, and pharmaceuticals. By doing so, Vietnam hopes to avoid potential tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump.
Vietnamese officials are engaging in talks with US businesses and foreign investors to ease concerns over trade tensions and their impact on the country’s export-driven economy.
Further meetings with international companies are planned as the government works to strengthen economic ties while managing geopolitical challenges.
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Britain’s competition regulator has approved Synopsys’ $35 billion acquisition of Ansys after the companies addressed concerns about the potential negative impact on innovation and pricing.
In December, the regulator raised alarms that the deal could reduce competition in the chip design software market, possibly leading to higher prices and less innovation.
However, following negotiations and the companies’ offer of remedies to mitigate these concerns, the regulator decided not to refer the deal for an in-depth phase-2 investigation.
Synopsys, a major player in the chip design software industry, announced the acquisition in January. The deal, which will be a mix of cash and stock, aims to strengthen Synopsys’ portfolio and expand its offerings in the design and development of complex products.
Ansys, a well-established provider of simulation software, is used by a range of industries, from aerospace to sports equipment, to design and optimise products like aeroplanes and tennis rackets.
The acquisition marks a significant move for Synopsys, enhancing its capabilities in the design and development of advanced technology.
The deal is expected to bring together the strengths of both companies, allowing them to offer a broader set of solutions to customers in various sectors, from semiconductor manufacturing to engineering and consumer goods.
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Canada’s privacy commissioner has launched legal action against Aylo Holdings, the Montreal-based operator of Pornhub and other adult websites, for failing to ensure consent from individuals featured in uploaded content.
Commissioner Philippe Dufresne said Aylo had not adequately addressed concerns raised in an earlier investigation, which found the company allowed intimate images to be shared without the direct permission of those depicted.
A Federal Court order is being sought to enforce compliance with privacy laws in Canada. Aylo Holdings has denied violating privacy laws and expressed disappointment at the legal action.
The company claims it has been in ongoing discussions with regulators and has implemented significant measures to prevent non-consensual content from being shared. These include mandatory uploader verification, proof of consent for all participants, stricter moderation, and banning content downloads.
The case stems from a complaint by a woman whose ex-boyfriend uploaded intimate images of her without her consent.
Although Aylo says the incident occurred in 2015 and policies have since improved, the privacy commissioner insists that stronger enforcement is needed. The legal battle could have significant implications for content moderation policies in the adult entertainment industry.
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China is set to release new guidance aimed at promoting the use of open-source RISC-V chips nationwide, a move that signals the country’s growing efforts to reduce its reliance on Western technology. The policy, which could be unveiled as early as this month, is being developed by several government bodies, including the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The final release date remains uncertain as discussions continue.
RISC-V, an open-source chip design technology, has gained popularity in China, particularly among state entities and research institutes, due to its lower cost and geopolitical neutrality. It is seen as a viable alternative to more established, proprietary chip architectures, such as those from Intel and AMD, and is gaining traction in various industries, including AI and mobile technology. This shift has raised concerns in the United States, where lawmakers are wary that China may be leveraging RISC-V’s open-source nature to boost its semiconductor sector.
The growing adoption of RISC-V has sparked a positive movement in the Chinese stock market, with shares of local chip design firms such as VeriSilicon and ASR Microelectronics experiencing significant gains. Industry leaders point out that RISC-V’s potential to reduce costs for smaller companies looking to implement AI, particularly with the rise of technologies like DeepSeek, could further drive its adoption.
As tensions between the US and China over technology intensify, the development of China’s semiconductor industry using RISC-V may become a critical aspect of its strategy to become less dependent on foreign chipmakers, while also advancing its own technological ambitions.
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Indian fintech startup Mintoak has acquired Digiledge in a deal valued at around $3.5 million, marking the first acquisition in India‘s central bank digital currency (CBDC) sector.
The move comes as the Reserve Bank of India continues expanding its pilot for the e-rupee, which was launched in December 2022 as a digital alternative to physical currency.
Mintoak, backed by PayPal and HDFC Bank, aims to enhance its merchant payment services by integrating Digiledge’s CBDC and bill payment capabilities.
Mintoak’s partner banks, including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, and SBI, will now be able to offer a broader range of CBDC-related payment solutions.
CEO Raman Khanduja stated that the acquisition would help merchant acquirers support small and medium enterprises with improved digital tools and financial services. The expansion aligns with India’s growing efforts to strengthen digital transactions and financial inclusion.
Several payment firms are actively seeking to participate in the CBDC pilot, with Cred and MobiKwik already enabling customer access earlier this year.
Google Pay, PhonePe, and Amazon Pay have also expressed interest in joining, as India’s digital payments ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly.
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Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Brendan Carr argued that the European Union‘s content moderation law is incompatible with America’s free speech tradition and puts undue pressure on US tech firms operating in Europe.
Carr’s comments reflect growing tensions between the United States and Europe over digital regulation. The FCC chairman accused the DSA of promoting censorship, echoing concerns raised by US Vice President JD Vance at an AI summit in Paris.
The Trump administration has made free speech a key policy focus, with President Trump vowing to combat online censorship and warning of scrutiny over the DSA’s impact on US businesses.
Tech giants such as Apple, Meta, and Alphabet have been asked to explain how they plan to comply with both the DSA and US free speech principles.
Some companies are considering geofencing to create separate platforms for different regions, though Carr questioned whether this would be practical.
The European Commission defended the law, stating it aims to protect fundamental rights and ensure a safer online environment.
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Eutelsat shares surged by over 60% on Tuesday, continuing a remarkable rise that saw them increase by 68% the day before. This spike came after geopolitical tensions raised the possibility of OneWeb satellites, owned by the French satellite operator, replacing Elon Musk’s Starlink service in Ukraine. Since Friday, Eutelsat’s stock has nearly tripled in value following a public dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump, which has cast doubt on the future of Starlink in the country.
Analysts suggest that the surge in Eutelsat’s stock is driven by the potential for OneWeb to secure the Ukrainian military’s satellite contract, with OneWeb being seen as a viable alternative to Starlink. The situation gained further momentum after a White House official revealed that Trump would pause military aid to Ukraine, potentially allowing Europe to increase its support. On Tuesday, the European Commission unveiled an ambitious 800 billion euro defense plan, further strengthening Europe’s role in the region.
Eutelsat has recently committed to increasing its satellite capacity for Ukraine, highlighting its growing importance for European defence. The French satellite operator has faced challenges, including concerns over rising debt and strong competition from US companies like SpaceX’s Starlink. Despite these hurdles, recent developments have rekindled investor confidence, with shares rising sharply after hitting all-time lows in February due to ongoing financial difficulties.
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Skype, the pioneering internet calling service that revolutionised communication in the early 2000s, will make its final call on May 5, as Microsoft retires the platform after two decades.
This move is part of Microsoft’s strategy to concentrate on its Teams service, which has become central to its business communication offerings, particularly since the pandemic.
Despite its early success and a peak of hundreds of millions of users, Skype struggled to compete with newer services like Zoom and Slack.
The platform’s decline was partly due to its inability to adapt to the mobile era, while Microsoft’s Teams has successfully integrated with Office applications, securing its position in the corporate sector.
Microsoft has assured Skype users that they will be able to transition smoothly to Teams, with their contacts and chats migrating automatically. While Skype had once been a major player, its decline mirrors other Microsoft missteps, such as its failed ventures with Internet Explorer and Windows Phone.
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SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is planning to borrow $16 billion to expand the company’s investments in AI, with a possible additional $8 billion loan in early 2026.
The financing plan was discussed with banks last week, according to sources cited by The Information.
The Japanese tech conglomerate has already committed $15 billion to the Stargate venture, a partnership with Oracle and OpenAI aimed at maintaining United States dominance in AI development.
Reports suggest SoftBank may invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, further solidifying its position in the sector.
