The IMF projects that inflation in Pakistan will rise in the coming years, potentially reaching nearly 9% by mid-2026, increasing pressure on households and businesses. While GDP growth is expected to remain moderate at just over 3%, high public debt and fiscal constraints continue to limit economic stability. The IMF warns that careful monetary and fiscal management will be necessary to control prices while sustaining growth.

Pro-Russian hackers have claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on France’s postal service, La Poste, disrupting online tracking, payments, and internal systems during the busy holiday period. French authorities and counter-espionage agencies have launched an investigation, treating the incident as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated cyber operations targeting Western infrastructure.

Apple’s upcoming AirTag 2, revealed through iOS 26 code, is expected to feature improved pairing, precise battery reporting, enhanced tracking for moving items, and better performance in crowded areas. The device will likely include a new Ultra Wideband chip but maintain its original design with a replaceable battery. Although labeled as “2025AirTag” internally, its launch is now expected around early 2026, alongside products like a new HomePod mini and a smarter Siri.

SBI Ripple Asia has partnered with XRPL-native Doppler Finance to develop yield-bearing products for XRP, expanding its use beyond cross-border payments. The collaboration will focus on compliant yield infrastructure and real-world asset tokenization on the XRP Ledger, with institutional clients as the main target. This move strengthens Ripple’s strategy in Asia and positions XRP as a more productive, investment-ready digital asset.

Sri Lanka’s economy grew 5.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, marking a continued recovery from its recent financial crisis, led mainly by strong industrial expansion. Growth was broad-based, with industry, agriculture, and services all contributing, despite disruptions caused by severe flooding and cyclone damage in late November. Authorities remain cautiously optimistic, supported by an IMF bailout programme and emergency funding, though risks to growth persist i

Google Labs has introduced CC, an experimental AI assistant that delivers a personalized daily productivity briefing via email using data from Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and the web. Powered by Gemini AI, CC summarizes key tasks, schedules, and reminders and allows users to interact by replying to emails to manage to-dos and generate actions. The service is currently available in early access for users in the US and Canada, mainly for paid Google AI subscribers.

Hong Kong reclaimed its position as Asia’s top fundraising hub in 2025, with share sales surging to over $73 billion, driven largely by major Chinese listings and placements. India also posted a record year for IPOs, raising more than $20 billion as strong domestic investor participation fueled blockbuster deals. While Asia now dominates global share-sale markets, investors are becoming more valuation-conscious amid market volatility and geopolitical risks.

New Zealand’s exports surged to NZ$25.0 billion in the September 2025 quarter, driven by strong global demand for key agricultural products. At the same time, the Māori economy recorded rapid growth, with GDP contributions nearly doubling between 2018 and 2023 and Māori-owned businesses expanding into diverse sectors. Rising business confidence and resilient export performance make 2025 a milestone year for both New Zealand’s trade sector and Māori enterprise.

China has a high number of young, self-made billionaires, reflecting strong wealth creation driven largely by technological innovation. However, analysts warn that increased state control and the lack of protections for failed entrepreneurs are holding back innovation and risk-taking. Experts say a more supportive environment is needed to sustain China’s entrepreneurial momentum.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Thushari Tennakoon has urged motorists to avoid nighttime travel to Nuwara Eliya due to heightened landslide risks following recent adverse weather. A fresh earth mound collapse on the Gampola–Nuwara Eliya main road in Katukithula underscores ongoing road instability. She confirmed that all necessary relief measures have been provided to affected residents and dismissed claims questioning the government’s response as unfounded.

ISRO has rescheduled the launch of the BlueBird-6 satellite, the heaviest US commercial satellite, to December 21, 2025, to allow additional pre-launch integration and testing. Developed with AST SpaceMobile, the 6.5-tonne satellite will use a massive phased array antenna to provide direct-to-device broadband connectivity, especially in remote regions. The mission, using ISRO’s LVM3 rocket, highlights a major step forward in global communication technology and strengthens Ind

Norwich Castle has attracted over 110,000 visitors in just three months after reopening following a £27.5m refurbishment. The project, which faced delays due to Covid and supply issues, introduced new features such as a glass atrium, café and recreated Norman interiors. Officials say the strong visitor turnout highlights the castle’s renewed status as a world-class heritage attraction.

Amazon announced a $35 billion investment in India by 2030 to expand infrastructure, enhance AI innovation, and boost digital inclusion. The company aims to support 3.8 million jobs and help 15 million small businesses adopt AI while empowering students through AI education. With this commitment, Amazon plans to help India increase e-commerce exports to $80 billion and strengthen its digital economy.

Meta has agreed to offer Facebook and Instagram users in the EU a new choice on how much of their data is shared for personalised advertising, following pressure from the European Commission. Starting January 2026, users can choose between fully personalised ads or a version with less data sharing and limited ad personalisation. This move resolves concerns over Meta’s previous “pay or consent” model, which was found to violate the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

Amazon launched its faster Trainium 3 AI chip, helping companies cut training costs by up to 50% and strengthening AWS’s competitiveness against Microsoft and Google. The company also revealed plans for a future Trainium4 chip that will integrate Nvidia’s NVLink Fusion technology, signaling deeper collaboration between the two firms. Amazon’s stock gained slightly, supported by strong recent performance and growing AI investments.

The OECD forecasts the global economy to grow 3.2% this year, showing resilience despite U.S. trade tensions. U.S. growth is upgraded to 2%, supported partly by strong AI-related investments, even as new tariffs pose future risks. China is expected to grow 5%, while India remains the fastest-growing major economy at 6.7%.

The IT industry is set for one of its strongest years since the mid-1990s, with AI driving a projected 10% global IT spending increase in 2026, surpassing $6 trillion. AI-focused data centers, generative AI systems, and AI-enabled software, cloud, and devices are fueling this growth, with major tech companies leading investments. While analysts caution the surge may not be indefinitely sustainable, integrating AI is increasingly essential for business competitiveness and prod

Japan is preparing to host a Japan–Central Asia Summit in Tokyo on December 19–20, with plans for bilateral talks between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Central Asian leaders. LDP Vice President Taro Aso highlighted the summit’s importance, noting that other major powers have recently strengthened their ties with the region. A similar summit planned for last year was canceled due to emergency megaquake warnings in Japan.

SpaceX is preparing a secondary share sale that could raise its valuation to around $800 billion, potentially surpassing OpenAI as the most valuable private company in the U.S. The surge in value is driven by SpaceX’s strong launch business and the rapid global expansion of its Starlink internet service. However, analysts caution that the valuation is not guaranteed until the sale is completed, and shifts in market demand could alter the outcome.

Sri Lanka’s stock market fell 3.04% as Cyclone Ditwah triggered heavy selling, though construction stocks rose on expectations of rebuilding demand. Analysts say investors are cautious and the downward trend is likely to continue. Across Asia, markets moved mixed, with Japan declining, Pakistan rising, and India slipping due to cyclone impacts and trade uncertainties.