7 m. ago Bangladesh’s student leaders ‘sidelined’ by Islamist allies in poll pact

Bangladesh’s student leaders, one of the main driving forces behind the mass protests that brought down former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, now face an uncertain political future. Despite their central role in the uprising, the youth movement has been granted only a small share of parliamentary seats under a new electoral alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami – an Islamist party that was long politically marginalised but has re-emerged as a central player. Under the agreement, the student-led...

Politics

25 m. ago DeepSeek technique to improve AI’s ability to ‘read’ long texts questioned by new research

A group of researchers from China and Japan has challenged a method unveiled several months ago by Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek that was designed to improve AI’s ability to handle long blocks of text, marking a rare case of the company’s research being publicly questioned. The DeepSeek-OCR (optical character recognition) method, designed to compress text by using visual representations, potentially revolutionising how AI models handle long texts, was flawed due to...

Science

92 m. ago As U.S. orders fade, Chinese salespeople face tough grind in new markets

As U.S. orders fade, Chinese salespeople face tough grind in new markets  Reuters

Economics

2 h. ago Singapore’s retail ownership data sparks debate about foreign chains’ influence

When Singapore’s trade minister Gan Kim Yong revealed that locals owned nearly 90 per cent of registered retail businesses in the city state while Chinese nationals came in second at a distant 3 per cent, the figures drew mixed reactions from the public and analysts. The discourse online centred on what the statistics implied – critics felt that though the proportion of foreign-owned entities, especially from China, might be minuscule, most could actually be big brands with multiple outlets,...

Politics

2 h. ago 2 Chinese nationals in Malaysia face US$392,000 tax bills after employer fraud

Two Chinese nationals working in Malaysia are facing income tax bills amounting to 748,073.84 ringgit (US$184,595) and 842,118.84 ringgit, respectively, after their employer allegedly used their identities to submit false salary information to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). Li Juan, 42, discovered the issue when she tried to extend her work permit, while the other victim, Chen Bi Ling, 40, who was married to a Malaysian, found out about it when she was extending her spouse’s visa. Speaking at...

Economics

4 h. ago Chinese automotive suppliers speed up localisation to increase global market share

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) supply chain vendors are adding another dimension to their go-global drive: designing batteries and lidar sensors for models by international marques that cater to overseas drivers. As leading players like BYD secure mega deals with major carmakers like Ford, Chinese automotive suppliers that once trailed their global peers are now stamping their authority on the EV sector. Chinese vendors were enjoying an overwhelming advantage over their international rivals in...

Politics

4 h. ago Chinese automotive suppliers speed up localisation to boost global market share

Chinese automotive suppliers speed up localisation to boost global market share  South China Morning Post

Politics

4 h. ago Syria deal with Kurdish fighters appears to unravel as Islamic State prisoners escape

Around 1,500 Islamic State members escaped from Syria’s Shaddadi prison on Monday, the Kurdish website Rudaw reported, quoting a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Earlier, the Syrian army said “a number of” Islamic State (Isis) militants had escaped a prison that had been under SDF control in the eastern city of Shaddadi, accusing the SDF of releasing them. The prison break took place a day after a sweeping deal was announced between the Syrian government and the...

Events

4 h. ago Syrian deal unravels as sides clash and Isis prisoners escape

A day after a sweeping deal was announced between the Syrian government and the country’s main Kurdish-led force, the agreement appeared to be falling apart on Monday. After new outbreaks of clashes Monday, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces issued a statement calling for “all of our youth” to “join the ranks of the resistance”. “Just as our comrades in 2014 forged a historic resistance in Kobani and turned it into a graveyard for (the Islamic State group) ... today we affirm with the same...

Events

6 h. ago Ford bemoans Chinese EV deal, says he still hasn't spoken to Carney

Ford bemoans Chinese EV deal, says he still hasn't spoken to Carney  CBC

Politics

6 h. ago Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cuts tariffs on Chinese EVs in deal with China

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cuts tariffs on Chinese EVs in deal with China  Fox Business

Politics

11 h. ago China's Diplomatic Pressure Looms Over Case Against Xinjiang Activists In Kazakhstan

China's Diplomatic Pressure Looms Over Case Against Xinjiang Activists In Kazakhstan  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Politics

11 h. ago Explosion at Chinese restaurant in Kabul kills 7, injures a dozen more

An explosion at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people and wounded more than a dozen others, emergency services said. An Agence France-Presse journalist saw police cars and an ambulance at the scene following the blast on a street known for its flower sellers in the Shahr-e-Naw area. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion happened at the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which he said mainly served Chinese Muslims. “A Chinese Muslim ... and six...

Events

11 h. ago Explosion at Chinese restaurant in Afghan capital Kabul kills 7

A blast at a Chinese restaurant in central Kabul on Monday killed at least seven people and wounded more than a dozen others, emergency services said. An Agence France-Presse journalist saw police vehicles and an ambulance at the scene following the explosion on a street known for its flower sellers in the Shahr-e-Naw area. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion occurred at the Chinese Noodle restaurant, which he said mainly served Chinese Muslims. “A Chinese Muslim, Ayub, and...

Events

11 h. ago 'Absolutely Rolled': U.S. Officials Blast Canada's Cheap Chinese EV Deal

'Absolutely Rolled': U.S. Officials Blast Canada's Cheap Chinese EV Deal  InsideEVs

Politics

12 h. ago Understanding the trends of various neurological disorders in the Chinese population

Understanding the trends of various neurological disorders in the Chinese population  News-Medical

Politics

15 h. ago Chinese premier chairs symposium to solicit opinions on draft gov't work report, five

Chinese premier chairs symposium to solicit opinions on draft gov't work report, five-year plan  Xinhua

Politics

16 h. ago Exclusive: Chinese importer buys Canadian canola, denting Australian export hopes

Exclusive: Chinese importer buys Canadian canola, denting Australian export hopes  Reuters

Politics

16 h. ago Nepali villagers gather for annual bullfighting event during Hindu harvest festival

In Taruka village in central Nepal, locals celebrated a yearly ancient bullfighting tradition on January 15. The event is held during the Hindu harvest festival of Maghe Sankranti which usually falls in January. But some animal activists warned that the activity amounted to animal cruelty.

Sport

16 h. ago This remote Chinese minority uses horsetail hair to create beautiful embroidery

This remote Chinese minority uses horsetail hair to create beautiful embroidery  South China Morning Post

Politics