ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan revealed plans to form a new paramilitary force specializing in protecting mineral resources from militant attacks in its western province of Balochistan, as Islamabad has determined that a dedicated security corridor there is needed to shore up global investors' confidence in the country's mining sector.
A slice of ashram life in the Himalayan foothills
PAURI GARHWAL, India -- Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh sits where the sacred Ganges descends from rugged peaks to fertile plains. Considered the birthplace of yoga, the town fuses spirituality, adventure and nature in a way few places do.
Southeast Asia's turn to crops for fuel leaves less for food and exports
JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK -- Picking up a few items at a 7-Eleven in Bangkok, housewife Somporn Chomchuen was surprised to see a notice limiting each shopper to six 1-liter bottles of cooking oil.
AI looms over Japan's near-record employment rate for new grads
TOKYO/KYOTO, Japan -- Students graduating from Japanese universities benefited from a strong job market again this year, government data released Friday shows, though how long this seller's market will continue remains unclear as more companies adopt artificial intelligence.
China's 'Seven Titans' tech stocks slump as deflation overpowers AI boom
HONG KONG -- Share prices of China's biggest tech companies, including Tencent Holdings and BYD, have been sluggish as deflationary pressures from weak domestic demand dampen gains made during last year's DeepSeek-fueled artificial intelligence rally.
Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime market doubles daily trading value over a year
TOKYO -- The average trading value for Japanese blue chip stocks has doubled over the past year, driven by an influx of foreign capital and a jump in short-term trades by small investors.
Australian fast-food chain Guzman y Gomez says 'adios' to tough US market
SYDNEY -- Australia-based Mexican fast-food chain Guzman y Gomez said Friday it will withdraw from the U.S. market to focus on countries such as Singapore and Japan, declaring that its performance in America has "not been acceptable."
Japan part of fentanyl-smuggling route, US official says
TOKYO -- Japan is part of a fentanyl-smuggling route leading to the U.S., a Drug Enforcement Administration official said here Friday in the American agency's first recognition of the Asian country's role in the transit of the synthetic opioid.
Global infrastructure funding doubles over 5 years, led by Japanese banks
TOKYO -- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and other Japanese banking groups have led the worldwide surge in infrastructure project financing, Nikkei has found, the growth driven by efforts to diversify supply chains and mitigate geopolitical threats.
Chinese drone shipments nose-dive on domestic restrictions, US ban
SHENZHEN -- Chinese-made civilian drone shipments have plummeted due to tightened restrictions at home and a ban in the U.S., forcing makers like global leader DJI to shift focus to cameras and other areas.