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Between guns and butter, Japan decides on both

Defense Tax cuts and subsidies to go ahead even as defense spending set to rise Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with U.S. President Donald Trump on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier docked at Yokosuka City, Japan, late last year.  © Kyodo TOKYO — Japan is poised to raise defense spending, but is not trimming in […]

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How toilet maker Toto turned its ceramics know-how into an AI play

Semiconductors Chipmaking materials are now its cash cow, but stock market remains unimpressed Toto manufactures three core products for chipmaking equipment: electrostatic chucks, upper left, aerosol deposition components, lower left, and durable structural parts used in equipment for producing large LCD panels. (Toto) TOKYO — Japan’s Toto may be best known for churning out toilets, bathtubs […]

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Indian military drone exports set to enter multifold growth phase

An Indian Army officer displays a cutting-edge surveillance drone in Kargil, India, on July 26, 2025. India’s military drone manufacturers have ambitions to increase overseas shipments of the weapons, which likely made up less than 5% of total defense exports in the fiscal year that ended in March. (Photo by Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto via Getty Images) MUMBAI — The Indian military […]

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Thailand keeps policy rate unchanged at 1% as expected

Economy Central bank leaves room for future cuts amid Middle East uncertainties Economists expected the Bank of Thailand to leave its policy rate unchanged at its meeting on April 28. © Reuters APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT BANGKOK — Thailand’s central bank on Wednesday kept its policy rate unchanged at 1%, leaving room for future cuts amid economic uncertainties posed […]