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Air India is preparing deeper cost controls and fresh flight reductions as the Iran war pushes up fuel costs, disrupts airspace and intensifies pressure on a carrier still trying to complete one of the world’s most ambitious airline turnarounds.

The Tata Group-owned airline is weighing measures that could include furloughs for non-technical employees, salary reductions for senior executives, lower bonus payouts and capacity cuts of more than 20 per cent over the next three months. The review comes as the airline faces longer routings, higher aviation turbine fuel prices and weaker economics on several long-haul and regional services.

Nearly 100 domestic and international flights are expected to be trimmed through July, with North America, Europe and West Asia routes among the most exposed. Longer flight paths caused by restricted airspace across parts of West Asia have increased flying time, crew costs and fuel burn. For an airline with a large share of wide-body operations, even a modest extension of flight time can turn a marginal route into a loss-making one.

Chief executive Campbell Wilson has told staff that the airline had already scaled back some services in April and May, but worsening operating conditions required further action in June and July. The cuts are being framed as a temporary response to abnormal costs rather than a reversal of Air India’s expansion strategy, though they underscore the fragility of the carrier’s recovery.

Air India’s financial strain predates the latest escalation in West Asia. The airline has been absorbing the cost of fleet renewal, cabin refits, technology upgrades, merger integration and service improvements since Tata Group acquired it from the government in 2022. Its merger with Vistara has expanded its premium network and given Singapore Airlines a stake of just over 25 per cent in the enlarged carrier, but the integration has also added complexity at a time of volatile fuel markets and aircraft supply delays.

The airline’s losses for the year ended March 2026 have been estimated at more than ₹220 billion, a sharp deterioration linked to high fuel costs, airspace restrictions, operational disruptions and the heavy cost of restructuring. The figure has raised expectations that shareholders may need to provide additional financial support while management attempts to protect liquidity.

War-linked airspace restrictions have hit Air India more severely than many rivals because of its geography. Flights between the subcontinent and North America or Europe often depend on corridors through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and surrounding regions. With some of these routes restricted or avoided for safety reasons, aircraft must take longer paths, increasing fuel consumption and reducing aircraft productivity.

The carrier has also faced constraints from aircraft availability. Refits of Boeing 787 aircraft, delivery delays and maintenance requirements have limited flexibility in reallocating capacity. The airline’s earlier suspension of Delhi-Washington services highlighted how aircraft shortages and airspace restrictions can combine to make long-haul routes commercially difficult even where demand exists.

Air India’s planned cuts come against a wider global aviation squeeze. Jet fuel prices have surged as the Iran war disrupted energy markets and raised fears over supply through the Gulf. Airlines with weaker fuel hedging, older fleets or longer detour-heavy networks face the harshest impact. Some carriers are raising fares, while others are cutting capacity to protect cash and preserve operational reliability.

For passengers, the adjustments could mean fewer non-stop choices, higher fares on peak routes and greater reliance on partner airlines through hubs such as London, Frankfurt, New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco. Air India is expected to prioritise commercially stronger routes and maintain connectivity where demand, yields and aircraft availability justify operations.

An ultra-slim flagship tablet setting new benchmarks in mobile productivity

Huawei globally debuted the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max at this launch. Combining refined design, a premium display, PC-level productivity, and a full suite of creative tools, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max provides flagship tablet performance in a remarkably thin and light form factor. At 499g and measuring a mere 4.7 mm thick, even the exclusive PaperMatte Edition weighs just 509g, HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max is the thinnest and lightest tablet among the 13-inch+ tablet.

Smart wearables refreshed for the next generation

Huawei has introduced a fresh lineup of smart wearables tailored for the young generation. The HUAWEI WATCH FIT 5 Series retains its iconic square design, now enhanced with a sleek, vibrant aesthetic. It guides users through engaging and accessible mini-workouts, encouraging a more active lifestyle. The series also supports a wide range of competitive sports, including cycling, golf, trail running, and tennis. With advanced tracking, analysis, and guidance features, it caters to diverse needs, from daily fitness routines to competitive sport.

Debuting at this event, the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 Racing Legend Edition is a professional running watch that embodies the look and feel of marathon racing. It features a new single running ability index (RAI) and a professional Training Camp Dashboard, giving runners deeper data insights to train smarter and race harder.

Huawei partnered with renowned jewelry designer Francesca Amfitheatrof to launch the HUAWEI WATCH ULTIMATE DESIGN Spring Edition. Inspired by the blooming beauty of spring, this design features 99 natural diamonds and diamond-cut sapphire glass, a wearable celebration of feminine strength and vitality.

Huawei has also unveiled new premium flagship kids watches: the HUAWEI WATCH KIDS X1 Series. Equipped with a front and rear high-definition camera setup, it features a 110° ultra-wide-angle front camera and a 1.82-inch AMOLED screen, offering a larger display and broader field of view. The device also includes a detachable and rotatable device body and AR fun feature, enabling kids to capture every precious moment of their explorations.

A new phone experience for the diverse needs of young users

Huawei officially launched the HUAWEI nova 15 Max, redefining the experience for a generation that plays hard and shoots sharp. Equipped with a 50 MP RYYB Ultra Vision Camera, it delivers true-to-life colors even in low light or backlit conditions. The 8,500 mAh Super Battery powers all-day use, eliminating battery anxiety. The Extra-Durable Body is drop-resistant, so everyday bumps are no longer a worry. Combined with a Vivid OLED Screen and Symmetrical Stereo Dual Speakers, an immersive audio-visual experience is always within reach. From photography to battery life, and from durability to audio-visuals, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max continuously empowers every passion.

From flagship tablets to smartwatches designed for children, Huawei’s connected device ecosystem continues to expand its presence in the daily lives of users around the world. Huawei remains committed to technology that is not only useful, but genuinely enriching, technology that ignites inspiration. Huawei looks forward to continued collaboration with users around the world, helping people live and work better, wherever they are.

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Deliveries of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built at Tesla’s Shanghai factory reached 79,478 units in April, including exports to Europe and other overseas markets. The figure was 36% higher than a year earlier, marking a sixth straight month of year-on-year growth, though it was 7.2% lower than March as the market moved through a seasonally softer month after a stronger end to the first quarter.

The April performance signals that Tesla is regaining some stability after a difficult stretch in 2025, when competition, pricing pressure and consumer fatigue weighed on its standing in major electric vehicle markets. Shanghai remains central to that recovery because it supplies the domestic market while also serving as a major export base for Europe, Asia-Pacific and other regions. The plant produces Tesla’s two highest-volume models, leaving its monthly output closely watched as a gauge of both local demand and overseas momentum.

Tesla sold 85,670 China-made vehicles in March, giving it a stronger base heading into the second quarter. April’s decline from that level suggests the rebound remains uneven, but the year-on-year rise points to healthier order flow than at the same point last year. The recovery has been helped by adjustments to production, export allocation and the refreshed Model Y cycle, while Tesla has continued to use financing incentives and targeted promotions to defend its share.

China’s electric vehicle market remains the world’s most competitive, with new energy vehicles accounting for a growing majority of passenger-car retail sales. April industry estimates pointed to new energy vehicle retail sales of about 860,000 units and a penetration rate above 60%, underscoring how quickly battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models are displacing petrol vehicles. That shift benefits Tesla’s broader addressable market, but it also exposes the company to fierce price competition from domestic manufacturers with faster model cycles and wider product ranges.

BYD remains Tesla’s most formidable rival, with a broad line-up spanning mass-market cars, plug-in hybrids, premium models and exports. Geely, Chery, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Li Auto, Nio and Xiaomi are also pressing deeper into the market, competing not only on price but on software, cabin technology, driving-assistance features and charging convenience. Several of these manufacturers are expanding overseas, putting pressure on Tesla in Europe and other export markets that were once more heavily dominated by the US company.

Tesla’s challenge is sharpened by the age of its core passenger line-up. The Model Y and Model 3 remain strong global sellers, but rivals are launching fresh sport-utility vehicles, sedans and compact models at a faster pace. Tesla has been working on lower-cost products and software-led upgrades to protect volumes, but investors and customers are watching closely for evidence that the company can broaden its appeal beyond its two main models.

Europe has become a key test of whether Shanghai’s output can translate into renewed international growth. Tesla sales have improved in several European markets after a weak 2025, helped by stronger demand for electric vehicles and a recovery from earlier supply disruptions. Yet the company faces a more crowded field, with BYD, Xpeng and other manufacturers gaining visibility through competitive pricing, longer equipment lists and expanded dealer networks.

Regulatory approval for advanced driver-assistance technology remains another variable. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving package is central to its long-term positioning, but approvals in China and Europe have moved cautiously. Wider deployment could support margins and brand differentiation, though regulators continue to scrutinise safety, data handling and driver-monitoring requirements. Without a faster software rollout, Tesla’s sales recovery will depend more heavily on vehicle pricing, product updates and production efficiency.

Tesla’s first-quarter global deliveries stood at 358,023 vehicles, with Model 3 and Model Y accounting for 341,893 units. That concentration highlights the importance of Shanghai’s April result: the plant is not merely a regional asset but a major pillar of the company’s global volume strategy. Stronger China-made deliveries can ease pressure on other factories, support export flexibility and help Tesla manage inventory across markets with uneven demand.

The five-year extension ensures operational continuity at one of Thailand’s leading container terminals, supporting the country’s expanding role in intra-Asian trade

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 May 2026 – DP World, through its joint venture Laem Chabang International Terminal Co., Ltd. (LCIT), has secured a five-year concession extension to continue operating the B5 container berth at Laem Chabang Port. The extension comes at a time of increasing intra-Asian trade and evolving supply chain dynamics, reinforcing the port’s role as a critical gateway for Thailand’s economy.

The contract, granted by the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), will run from May 2026 to April 2031, reinforcing DP World’s central role in bolstering regional trade flows.

LCIT operates both B5 and C3 berths at Laem Chabang, Thailand’s principal deep-sea gateway and the country’s largest container hub supporting international trade. The terminals can accommodate up to four vessels simultaneously along 900 meters of berth length and are supported by 4,420 sqm of on-dock container freight station (CFS) facilities. In 2025, LCIT handled a record 1.936 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), its highest annual throughput to date, reflecting sustained growth in container volumes.

Glen Hilton, CEO & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, DP World, said: “This concession extension at Laem Chabang Port ensures continuity and service stability for our customers at a time when supply chains face increasing pressure and complexity. As Thailand strengthen its position as a regional trade hub, this extension allows us to continue investing in capacity, efficiency and sustainable operations. Together with our partners at LCIT, we are well positioned to support growing intra-Asia trade and deliver long-term value for customers across the Asia Pacific region.”

This concession will enable continued investment by DP World in operational efficiency and sustainability at Laem Chabang. In 2025, five electric internal transfer vehicles (eITVs) were deployed at LCIT, reducing emissions by approximately 60% compared to diesel alternatives while supporting faster vessel handling. Further upgrades are planned in 2026, including the installation of additional eITVs, electric reach stackers, and an electric empty container handler.

Complementing its operations at Laem Chabang Port, DP World has an integrated logistics network throughout Thailand, including cross-border trucking, landside logistics and freight forwarding. The company also recently launched a rail-connected inland container yard in Khon Kaen with a dedicated thrice-weekly rail shuttle to Laem Chabang, enhancing connectivity for exporters in Thailand’s Northeastern region.

​ These services and solutions aim to strengthen Thailand’s domestic and export trade by enabling the seamless movement of goods and materials from port to domestic hinterlands, and to markets across the wider Asia Pacific region.
Hashtag: #DPWorld

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About DP World

DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 125,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

In Asia Pacific, DP World employs over 15,000 people across 22 geographies. We operate 17 ports and terminals, complemented by a comprehensive suite of end-to-end supply chain solutions – to connect the region to the rest of the world.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW

Economists led by Chetan Ahya have drawn a parallel with electric vehicles, where early policy support, component localisation and aggressive production expansion turned China from a fast follower into the world’s dominant exporter. Their research projects China’s share of global manufacturing could rise to 16.5 per cent by 2030, from about 15 per cent now, as advanced automation and embodied artificial intelligence move from demonstration projects into factory and logistics use.

The bullish case rests on China’s widening lead in humanoid robot production. Industry estimates show the country produced about 12,800 humanoid robots in 2025, close to 90 per cent of global output, though the market remains tiny compared with conventional industrial robotics. China also remains the world’s largest industrial robot market, accounting for more than half of global factory robot installations in 2024, with an operational stock above 2 million units.

That foundation matters because humanoid robots require the same manufacturing strengths that supported China’s rise in solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles: precision motors, sensors, actuators, batteries, control systems, machine vision and low-cost assembly. Local companies are building ecosystems around these components, while provincial governments are offering subsidies, industrial parks and procurement support to accelerate commercial deployment.

Beijing has identified humanoid robots as a strategic industry, setting targets for mass production and global leadership while integrating robotics into wider plans for artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. The 15th Five-Year Plan framework is expected to place AI-powered robots near the centre of industrial upgrading, although large-scale commercialisation is more likely toward the later part of the plan period than immediately.

The sector’s momentum has drawn major private capital. Start-ups such as Unitree, UBTech, AgiBot and Fourier Intelligence have moved quickly from stage demonstrations to pilot factory and warehouse deployments. Linkerbot, a fast-growing maker of dexterous robotic hands, is seeking a valuation of about $6 billion after building a strong position in high-degree-of-freedom robotic hands used in humanoids and industrial systems. Its modular products point to an important feature of the market: some of the earliest profits may come from components rather than complete humanoid machines.

Automakers and electronics groups are also moving into the field. Xpeng has said humanoid robotics could become a long-term investment area alongside electric vehicles, while other manufacturers are testing robots for inspection, sorting, materials handling and repetitive shop-floor tasks. The logic is clear. China faces an ageing workforce, rising labour costs in coastal manufacturing hubs and growing pressure from tariff barriers. A successful humanoid robotics industry could help preserve competitiveness even as low-cost labour advantages fade.

The export implications are broader than robot sales. If humanoids improve productivity in Chinese factories, they could lower production costs across electronics, machinery, appliances and consumer goods. That would reinforce the country’s position in global supply chains at a time when the United States, Europe and several Asian economies are trying to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing. It could also create a new export category in robots, components, software and maintenance services.

Yet the constraints remain substantial. Humanoid robots are still expensive, often have limited battery life and struggle with unstructured environments. Many can perform scripted tasks in controlled settings but fall short when asked to handle the speed, judgement and dexterity of human workers. Even executives in China’s robotics industry acknowledge that factory humanoids remain less efficient than people in many jobs. Safety certification, liability rules, data protection and workplace integration will also affect adoption.

Dependence on high-end chips and advanced software ecosystems is another weakness. US restrictions on AI semiconductors have pushed Chinese firms to localise more hardware, but training and deploying capable embodied AI systems remains compute-intensive. Without steady access to cutting-edge chips, progress may be uneven, particularly in models that require real-time perception, movement planning and continuous learning.

The BGI, presented Wednesday by an international group of governance scholars, analyses measurable benchmarks of democratic accountability across 145 countries.

On a 100-point scale, the global score for democratic accountability slipped slightly from 65 in 2000 to 64 in 2023, the most recent data used in the project. The wave of democratisation observed in the closing decades of the last century has stalled in the last 15 years. Democratic accountability fell in 54 countries while it improved in 48 countries.

Yet the BGI — a collaborative project of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Berlin’s Hertie School and the Berggruen Institute, a think tank headquartered in Los Angeles — captures remarkably widespread growth in provision of public goods.

Encompassing healthcare, education, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and conditions to foster employment and rising prosperity, public goods improved in 135 of the countries studied, while declining slightly in just four. The global average jumped from 58 to 69 points from 2000 to 2023.

The third component of what the BGI authors refer to as the “governance triangle” is state capacity, defined as the ability to tax, borrow and spend, control territory, operate scrupulous, competent bureaucracies and administer predictable rule of law. The index finds the global average ticking up from 48 to 49 points; 56 countries had increased state capacity while 57 declined.

“What does it tell us about the world ahead?” Prof. Helmut K. Anheier, a Luskin School sociologist and BGI principal investigator, asked during the public release of the 2026 BGI on the UCLA campus.

“Countries are not really improving in their governance performance in significant ways. … We’re not really having forward-looking investment in governance capacity. There is considerable inertia.”

The largest improvements across all three BGI components occurred in Gambia, which the report groups with “low-capacity developing states.” These states score low across the board, particularly in the provision of public goods. This cluster constitutes the poorest countries with the least developed economies, which face the most serious challenges.

“They have the greatest exposure to likely future crises, whether it’s global warming, whether it’s a new pandemic, whether it’s another financial crisis, whether it’s the impact of AI,” Anheier said. “And they have the least capacity to respond to it.”

Bhutan, Georgia, Iraq and Tunisia — which make up the remaining top five countries with the largest improvements in the BGI — are classified as “capacity-constrained states.” They tend to be middle-income with struggling democracies. These countries score higher across the board than the low-capacity developing states, but their state capacity tends to lag compared to public goods and democratic accountability.

The capacity-constrained states risk falling into “a cycle that erodes the institutions they have built,” Anheier said.

“Consolidated democratic states”, a cluster of most of the world’s richest countries, which score highly in all three BGI components, have to confront domestic complacency. Further, in the United States and some others, “political dysfunction” is leaving mounting problems unaddressed and risking erosion of state capacity, Anheier said.

At the other end of the spectrum, the country with the farthest fall on the BGI since 2000 is Nicaragua. Second from last is Venezuela, followed by Hong Kong, Hungary and Turkey. The rest of the bottom 10 are Russia, Iran, Poland, El Salvador and Belarus.

Since 2023, which is the last year of data available for the study, Poland and Hungary have both seen government changes via election, despite serious democratic backsliding. Both had fallen out of the group of “consolidated democratic states” by 2023 and moved into the capacity constrained cluster.

The other eight countries at the bottom of the list are all places that once had some semblance of competitive elections, but by now have little or no remaining pretense of democracy. They are grouped by the authors among the “authoritarian and hybrid states”, which have by far the lowest democratic accountability but outperform even some struggling democracies in delivering public goods.

These regimes have tended toward faster economic growth in the period observed. But that seeming prosperity, typically fueled by extractive industries or overreliance on exports, masks “serious institutional weaknesses in these countries, including divided elites,” Anheier said.

Relatively few countries — 21 of the 145 — changed enough for better or worse to be classified in a new group by the end of the 23-year study period.

“Movement between them is rare, but this is largely what we should expect,” said Stella Ghervas, a UCLA historian on a panel of experts who discussed the BGI findings Wednesday. “Government systems are not created in a moment. They evolve over long periods of time.”

Local conditions shaping governance in each country can rarely be quickly reset through political will or even external shocks, Joseph C. Saraceno, a Luskin School data scientist and BGI co-author, said Wednesday.

“Despite all the talk of major transformations happening in global affairs, the underlying configuration of governance simply doesn’t appear to change very much,” Saraceno said. “We use the term inertia to describe this reoccurring pattern. In other words, the structures of global governance are resistant to movement as the conditions beneath them are quite sticky: political economies, demographics, resource endowments. These are deeply layered, and they push each country toward the world that it already inhabits.”

But the challenges lurking around the world may not wait for the slow and difficult processes of political change and development to catch up.

“With the few exceptions of those countries in the consolidated democratic world,” Anheier said, “the great majority of the countries in the world is ill-prepared for the future.”

The full report, ‘ 2026 Berggruen Governance Index – The Four Worlds of Governance‘, can be viewed and downloaded from the website of the UCLA’s Luskin School.

Frank Fuhrig, DNA

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CUHK’s Academic Excellence and Global Research Impact

Ranked among the world’s top 50 universities, CUHK ascended to 32nd place globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, marking a four-place rise that reinforces its role as a hub for rigorous inquiry, and a dynamic environment where students are empowered to pursue meaningful research and knowledge exchange. This trajectory is supported by 17 CUHK researchers recognised on the Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list by Clarivate Analytics, and 431 academics listed among the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University. Among them, 47 scholars were ranked within the global top 100 in their respective fields. Notably, three scholars, including Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, have earned positions within the global top 10, a distinction that highlights the remarkable depth and excellence of CUHK’s research community.

CUHK’s The Nethersole School of Nursing: Nurturing Research Innovation and Global Talent in Nursing

Among CUHK’s strongest performers in this year’s rankings, the Nethersole School of Nursing has been ranked #1 in Hong Kong and Asia, and #6 worldwide. Reflecting on the academic environment, Pham Nhat Vi DO, a Vietnamese PhD student in Nursing, shared: “My PhD journey at CUHK has transformed my research abilities, critical thinking, and leadership skills. Through CUHK’s outstanding faculty support, I have accessed diverse academic resources and gained invaluable hands-on experience, building a strong foundation for my future career.”

Vi’s research focuses on colorectal cancer survivorship using cutting-edge technology. As the first Vietnamese researcher adopting this approach, her work reflects CUHK’s strength in empowering students to break new ground.

CUHK’s Geography and Resource Management: Advancing Student Research on Pressing Climate Challenges

CUHK’s Department of Geography and Resource Management has also earned notable recognition in this year’s ranking, placing #4 in Asia and #21 worldwide. Arati POUDEL, a Nepali PhD student, highlighted the University’s research ecosystem as a key defining aspect of her experience. “CUHK exceeds expectations through outstanding research facilities, supportive faculty, and comprehensive professional development opportunities. The prestigious Belt and Road Scholarship has also enriched my research journey in this beautiful campus environment.”

Supported by CUHK, Arati’s research investigates how adaptation to climate extremes—particularly water scarcity and excess—are being addressed, and the pivotal role played by communities and civil society in leading these responses.

Through the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, CUHK continues to demonstrate the impact of its research and scholarship. These achievements underscore the University’s growing influence on the global academic stage and its steadfast commitment to addressing complex global challenges through innovation, insight, and collaboration.
Hashtag: #CUHK

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About CUHK

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a leading higher education institution dedicated to nurturing and empowering students to become responsible and compassionate global citizens. With a rich heritage and a forward-looking vision, CUHK strives to blend tradition with innovation, fostering academic excellence, research breakthroughs, and meaningful societal impact.