China border

India has formally identified 28 places and features in Ladakh by their standard names on official Survey of India maps. The move is widely seen as a response to China's renaming of locations in Eastern Ladakh and part of New Delhi's effort to counter Chinese territorial claims along the disputed border region.

Bloomberg reports that smuggling of Nvidia chips into China is exposing gaps in the company's ability to track where its advanced semiconductors end up. Despite US export controls restricting sales of high-end AI chips to China, illicit channels continue to move the hardware across borders, raising questions about enforcement and oversight. The story highlights how export restrictions are being circumvented and what that means for US-China tech tensions.

Attention has turned to the 1969 Sino-Soviet border conflict, a short but serious war between China and the Soviet Union fought along the Ussuri River, notably at Zhenbao (Damansky) Island. The fighting killed hundreds and pushed the two communist powers to the brink of nuclear war before tensions eased. With Russia and China now close partners, the history of their past confrontation is drawing renewed interest.

Brazilians are heading to the polls in an election with major consequences beyond the country's borders. The vote comes as Brazil weighs its relationships with the United States and China, two powers courting influence in Latin America, while the country's large public debt and economic struggles weigh heavily on voters' minds.

Hong Kong pro-democracy defenders addressed the UN Human Rights Council's 63rd session, highlighting what they describe as transnational repression by Beijing, including pressure and intimidation extended beyond Hong Kong's borders. The intervention came as a number of states renewed their concerns over China's human rights record, keeping Hong Kong on the council's agenda amid ongoing crackdowns on civil society and exile activists.

Malaysia is developing a new research corridor spanning Asia, a project scientists say is designed to respond to China's growing scientific and economic influence in the region. The initiative aims to strengthen research collaboration across Asian countries and position Malaysia as a regional hub for science and innovation as geopolitical dynamics shift.

China has expanded its military presence in Southeast Asia by establishing an air base in Laos, according to France 24 reporting. The development marks another step in Beijing's efforts to project military power beyond its borders and deepen defence ties with a close neighbour, raising questions about shifting regional influence and the response of other powers active in Southeast Asia.

Tencent has agreed a five-year, $7 billion deal to lease around 100,000 AI chips from Oracle. The arrangement gives the Chinese tech giant access to large-scale computing power for artificial intelligence without outright hardware purchases. The deal highlights how Chinese companies are turning to cloud providers to secure AI capacity amid tight chip supply and export restrictions.

China has inaugurated two military hubs in Laos, expanding its defense footprint in Southeast Asia. The facilities underscore Beijing's growing military presence along its southern border and are likely to draw scrutiny from regional powers concerned about Chinese influence in mainland Southeast Asia.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis has agreed a deal worth about $7.8 billion with China's Abogen Biosciences, according to Reuters. The agreement centres on mRNA technology, marking a significant move by Novartis into the field and a landmark licensing arrangement for a Chinese biotech firm with a major Western pharmaceutical partner.

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has agreed a deal worth $2.6 billion with China's Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, giving Novo rights to an obesity drug candidate. The agreement underscores fierce competition in the fast-growing weight-loss drug market, where Novo's Wegovy faces mounting rivalry from Eli Lilly and emerging Chinese developers.

China has opened a military training center with Laos, which analysts describe as its third overseas military base. The facility deepens Beijing's defense ties with a close Southeast Asian neighbor and extends its limited but growing network of installations beyond its borders, following bases in Djibouti and Tajikistan.

China has reportedly established a new military support base in Laos, extending its defense presence in Southeast Asia. Bloomberg carried the news, which analysts are likely to read as another step in Beijing's efforts to project power beyond its borders, closer to Vietnam, Thailand and key regional supply routes.