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Dhaka’s already strained relationship with New Delhi has come under fresh pressure after a Bangladeshi opposition leader threatened to shelter separatists targeting India’s sensitive northeast region in retaliation for what he claimed to be election interference.Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), warned at a rally in Dhaka on Monday that he would carry out the move if Bangladesh believed India was trying to influence its election in February.“If Bangladesh is destabilised, the fire of resistance will spread beyond borders. Since you are housing those who destabilise us, we will give refuge to the separatists…

China is emerging as a rising powerhouse for scientific innovation at a time when scientific research in the United States faces growing funding instability, according to Belgian neurologist Steven Laureys.“There’s a wonderful opportunity for me to work with China. And I’m very happy that China is investing in science in these challenging times with [Donald] Trump, because I’m also an invited professor at Harvard. It’s good to see that we benefit from funding there,” he said.“That’s the power of China – to have this political organisation where, when the decision is made, it happens. The unification of resources and pushing…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) leader BYD has reinforced its push to build and sell more cars fitted with level 3 (L3) autonomous driving systems after Beijing took its first step towards deregulating the technology.The company collaborated with authorities in Shenzhen, where it was based, to test some of its cars ahead of mass production, according to China Business News. BYD confirmed the report, adding that it had completed more than 150,000 kilometres of real-world L3 testing.The company did not elaborate on when production of its first L3 vehicles would start.L3 allows cars to navigate streets by themselves, but drivers are…

BEIJING: Oil prices were up nearly a dollar in Asian trade on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced a blockade on tankers entering and leaving Venezuela and most exports from the country remained on hold. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 98 cents, or 1.7%, at $56.89 per barrel at 0120 GMT, after initially rising more than a dollar. Brent crude rose 92 cents or 1.54% to $60.60 per barrel. Trump on Tuesday had ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, calling President Nicolas Maduro’s administration a foreign terrorist organization, although it was…

Hong Kong stocks resumed their decline on Thursday, with technology stocks leading the sell-offs on growing jitters that a global boom in artificial intelligence could turn into a bubble.The Hang Seng Index fell 0.3 per cent to 25,391.46 at 10.10am local time. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 1.2 per cent.On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index slid 0.5 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added less than 0.1 per cent.Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone and electric vehicle maker, tumbled 2.5 per cent to HK$40.20 and search engine operator Baidu sank 1.9 per cent to HK$116.40. Alibaba Group Holding lost…

Hong Kong stocks resumed their decline on Thursday, with technology stocks leading the sell-offs on growing jitters that a global boom in artificial intelligence could turn into a bubble.The Hang Seng Index fell 0.3 per cent to 25,391.46 at 10.10am local time. The Hang Seng Tech Index dropped 1.2 per cent.On the mainland, the CSI 300 Index slid 0.5 per cent and the Shanghai Composite Index added less than 0.1 per cent.Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone and electric vehicle maker, tumbled 2.5 per cent to HK$40.20 and search engine operator Baidu sank 1.9 per cent to HK$116.40. Alibaba Group Holding lost…

The People’s Liberation Army has made a rare public appeal for tip-offs about procurement problems in its air force, as Beijing presses ahead with its anti-corruption campaign in the military.The announcement was posted on Monday on the PLA’s official procurement website – the main bid information platform for suppliers – seeking information about “irregular” procurement activities organised by air force units.It is the first time such a request has been made about a specific branch of the military, which comprises the ground force, navy, air force and rocket force, alongside specialised information, space, cyber and joint logistics forces. 01:33PLA anti-graft…

KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account posted a surplus in November 2025, reversing the deficit recorded a month earlier, largely on the back of a sharp reduction in trade and services deficits. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday reported a current account surplus of USD 100 million in November, compared with a deficit of USD 291 million in October. The improvement was driven by a significant narrowing of the monthly trade and services gaps. The trade deficit, in November 2025, fell 11 percent to USD 2.454 billion, while the services deficit dropped sharply by 41 percent to USD 140 million.…

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari has shared woes of the sector with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), top of which are constraints in financing, rupee cover and high upfront costs. In a meeting with a delegation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by Leah Gutierrez, Director General, Central and West Asia Department, the minister sought ADB’s support in addressing power sector debt repayment challenges, and in building confidence among private investors. Leah Gutierrez shared that this was her first visit to Pakistan in her current role and appreciated the opportunity to engage with the Power…

As Australia’s new restrictions on social media use by children under 16 take effect this month, governments across Southeast Asia are rolling out or weighing their own measures aimed at protecting young users online.From platform licensing rules in Malaysia to age-based access limits in Indonesia, the moves reflect a broader global push to rein in tech companies over child safety, cyberbullying and harmful content.But analysts say such policies can also open the door to wider regulatory powers over digital spaces, particularly in countries where safeguards for privacy, free expression and civic participation are weaker.The Australian legislation that came into force…