Japan’s tech giant Rakuten has made a bold decision that has sparked a heated debate across the country. CEO Hiroshi Mikitani has ordered the company’s 30,000 employees to switch to English as their primary language within two years. All meetings, emails, office documents, and daily communication will be conducted in English, with employees warned that failing to pass the English proficiency test within the given timeframe may result in demotion.
In a country where national language is deeply rooted in culture, the decision has raised eyebrows. Critics have called it an insult to the Japanese language and culture, while some have labeled it as “anti-Japanese” policy. However, Mikitani remains steadfast in his decision, offering employees special time to learn English, subsidizing language training costs, and granting additional time to those who need it.
As time passed, most employees successfully passed the English proficiency test, and today, Rakuten is hiring engineers and experts from around the world, many of whom do not speak Japanese. According to business experts, this policy has played a significant role in expanding Rakuten’s global presence, while many Japanese companies remain limited to the domestic market.
The decision has sparked a divide in Japan, with some hailing it as a revolutionary move, while others see it as a loss of cultural identity in the pursuit of global business. A recent report suggests that the US has imposed sanctions on an Iraqi deputy oil minister, accusing Iran of helping him. The move is seen as a temporary measure aimed at re-opening the Strait of Hormuz, with hopes of a partial agreement that could ease tensions.
In other news, Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced a ceasefire with Ukraine from 8 May to 10 May. In India, the Maharashtra state government has extended the deadline for the state assembly’s term, citing a letter from the Governor’s office. Bahrain has sentenced 14 individuals for alleged ties to Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian military has unveiled new naval drones, including the “Taifun” surface vehicle. A Pakistani hiking guide has rescued a woman in the UAE who suffered a heat stroke while hiking, carrying her on his back for three hours.
In the US, a passenger plane collided with a truck while landing, with the truck driver miraculously surviving. In India, a nine-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her father in Maharashtra’s Markandeya district. Iranian media has reported that former Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has condemned the spread of fake news about alleged US-Iran talks.
In other sports news, Pakistan’s cricket team has ruled out their captain Babar Azam from playing the first test due to an injury. In India, a public service announcement has been issued by the Maharashtra government, extending the deadline for the state assembly’s term.
In Bollywood news, actress Nora Fatehi has apologized to the Indian National Commission for Women over her involvement in a controversy surrounding the Sarkechane-Chenar dispute. Fatehi has claimed that she was not aware of the situation and was put in a difficult position.
