Business

Dutch brewer Heineken is investing US$183 million to expand its Ponta Grossa brewery in Brazil, increasing manufacturing capacity by 75%. CEO Mauricio Giamellaro emphasizes Brazil's importance as a key market, accelerating strategic investments despite economic slowdown and viewing the country as more crucial than US and European markets.

Rana Kapoor, founder of Yes Bank, was arrested by financial crime detectives over money laundering charges. He is accused of criminal conspiracy and cheating amounting to approximately $581 million, with authorities claiming he was uncooperative during the investigation.

Toyota is recalling over 3 million vehicles globally, including 1.8 million in the US, due to fuel pump issues that could cause engine failure. The recall affects cars, minivans, SUVs, and trucks, with potential risks of warning lights and increased crash probability during high-speed driving.

The International Air Transport Association warns of catastrophic financial impact from coronavirus, projecting $113 billion in lost passenger revenue. IATA's Director General describes the situation as "almost without precedent," highlighting the dramatic economic consequences of the global pandemic on air travel.

Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific was fined $970,000 for a significant data breach that compromised personal information of 9.4 million passengers. The security lapse exposed sensitive details including names, passport information, contact data, and travel history through inadequate cybersecurity measures.

Takeda Pharmaceutical, Japan's largest drugmaker, is developing a promising plasma-derived therapy to treat coronavirus infection. The company seeks blood samples from recovered patients and vaccinated individuals, hoping to create an effective COVID-19 treatment in coordination with health experts across Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Swiss food giant Nestle plans to plant 3 million trees across Mexico and Brazil by next year, collaborating with environmental nonprofits to restore ecosystems and reduce carbon footprint. This initiative represents the first phase of the company's strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The coronavirus outbreak is causing significant disruption to global medicine production. With China being the largest manufacturer of drug ingredients and India heavily dependent on Chinese chemical components, the pandemic is creating potential shortages of essential medications for diabetes, blood pressure, and common ailments.

A former Microsoft engineer has been convicted of stealing $10 million in digital currency while working as a software tester, facing multiple federal felony charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.

As coronavirus quarantine measures spread across China, mobile game downloads surged by 39% in February. Tencent reported significant increases in daily active users for games like Mahjong and Game For Peace, reflecting people's need for digital entertainment during lockdown periods.