DHAKA: Protesters rallied across Bangladesh on Friday (Dec 19) for a second straight day, calling for the arrest of the gunmen who shot and killed a key figure in last year's pro-democracy uprising.

As news spread that 32-year-old student leader Sharif Osman Hadi died in hospital in Singapore on Thursday, crowds took to the streets in an outpouring of mourning and anger.

Several buildings were vandalised, including the offices of media outlets deemed to favour India - an old ally of Bangladesh's ousted leadership.

Protests were also held in the cities of Gazipur, Sylhet and Chattogram on Friday.

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Hadi, a staunch critic of India, was shot by masked gunmen while leaving a mosque in the capital Dhaka last week. He was initially wounded and flown to Singapore for treatment, but eventually succumbed to his wounds.

In Dhaka on Friday, protester Sajid Al Adeeb told AFP that "people have gathered here demanding the swift arrest of those who killed Hadi".

The 20-year-old student said the killers were "currently in India" - a claim which New Delhi has not commented on.

"I urge the government to take immediate and appropriate steps to arrest those responsible," he added.

"Above all, I want Hadi's ideals to live on."

Hadi's remains were brought to Dhaka on Friday evening ahead of a funeral planned for the following day.

The customary funeral prayer will be performed in front of the parliament building, the government said.

Hadi's body will then be placed at the central mosque of Dhaka University to allow people to pay their last respects before his burial there.

Amir Hossain, Hadi's brother-in-law, told AFP that the family wanted justice.

"We don't need anything except justice. The perpetrators must be punished," Hossain said.

"CAN'T BREATHE"

Security has been beefed up in the capital with strict restrictions on flying drones around the parliament building.

Late Thursday, people set fire to several buildings in Dhaka, including the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and the Daily Star.

Critics accuse the publications of favouring neighbouring India, where Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken refuge since fleeing Dhaka in the wake of the 2024 uprising.

Staff trapped in the Daily Star newsroom said the building quickly filled with smoke.

"I can't breathe anymore ... You are killing me," reporter Zyma Islam wrote on Facebook, before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control and rescue the employees.

Sajjad Sharif, executive editor at Prothom Alo, called it "an attack on freedom of the press, expression, dissent and diversity of opinion".

The interim government, led by the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, spoke to the editors of the two newspapers on Friday and condemned the vandalism.

The government also urged citizens to resist all forms of mob violence, which it said was committed by a few "fringe elements".

"CRITICAL MOMENT"

"This is a critical moment in our nation's history when we are making a historic democratic transition," a government statement said.

"We cannot and must not allow it to be derailed by those few who thrive on chaos and reject peace."

Protesters on Thursday also blocked a major highway and attacked the residence of a former minister in Chattogram, according to footage shown on local television.

On Wednesday, before Hadi's death, protesters demanding Hasina be returned to Bangladesh marched toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, in the latest sign of strained ties between the neighbours since the fall of her autocratic government.

Hadi, a leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha, was running for a parliament seat in the February 2026 national election.

Bangladeshi police said they had launched a manhunt for his killers, releasing photographs of two key suspects and offering a reward for information leading to their arrest.

Special Friday prayers were held across mosques, and Saturday was declared an official day of mourning in honour of the slain student leader.

The US embassy in Dhaka urged its citizens to remain vigilant and "remember that gatherings intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence".

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday (Dec 19) said it had detected "abrupt variations" of water flows on a river crucial to its farmers, accusing neighbouring India of releasing water without warning in defiance of a major treaty that New Delhi suspended this year.

India in April announced it was suspending the Indus Water Treaty in the lead-up to armed conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours and following a deadly militant attack in India-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, which denied involvement.

Pakistan has said any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water into the country would be considered an "act of war".

Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar told foreign diplomats on Friday that Pakistan's water treaty commissioner had written a letter to his Indian counterpart over "unusual, abrupt variations" observed in the flow of the Chenab river from Dec 7 to Dec 15, similar to changes detected in April and May.

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"These variations in water flows are of extreme concern for Pakistan, as they point to unilateral release of water by India," he said, according to a ministry statement.

India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"India has released this water without any prior notification ... as required under the Treaty," Dar added, saying it represented a "weaponisation of water".

"India's manipulation of water, at a critical time of our agricultural cycle, directly threatens the lives and livelihoods, as well as food and economic security, of our citizens," Dar said in the speech to the international diplomatic corps in Islamabad.

"What we are witnessing now is material breaches by India that strike at the heart of the Indus Waters Treaty" signed in 1960, he added.

India suspended the treaty following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr 22 that killed 26 people.

New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing the attack, which Pakistan denies, and said it was suspending the water treaty in response.

The two countries in May then engaged in intense tit-for-tat drone, missile and artillery exchanges which left nearly 70 people, including dozens of civilians, dead on both sides.

India has said it is building additional dams on the Chenab that could over the long term further restrict flows to Pakistan, threatening the livelihoods of millions of farmers as well as drinking water supplies in the rapidly growing country.

The 1960 treaty, negotiated with the help of the World Bank over several years, ensured "equitable use" of six tributaries that feed the Indus river system.

India's suspension letter, sent to Pakistan in April, also cited "fundamental changes to the circumstances" since the deal was signed, including "population dynamics" and a "need to accelerate the development of clean energy".
 

The assassination of Bangladeshi youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi on Thursday (Dec 18) has triggered violent protests in the country.

Hadi, 32, was shot on the streets of the capital Dhaka last Friday.

He died six days later in a Singapore hospital.

KEY FIGURE IN 2024 UPRISING

Hadi was a prominent figure in the July 2024 uprising, which resulted in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

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He was an outspoken critic of Hasina, as well as India, where she fled.

Hadi was seen as a bridge between student groups and wider political mobilisation. He helped organise protests and communicate the demands of student groups calling for political reform during the July uprising.

After Hasina's 15-year rule ended, Hadi founded the Inqilab Moncho group, or Platform for Revolution, which has been organising street protests and campaigns denouncing Hasina and India. 

Hasina's opponents blame her government for being subservient to India during her rule.

They also seek her return to Bangladesh to face punishment. A court sentenced her to death in November for crimes against humanity.

Hadi had planned to run as an independent candidate in a major constituency in Dhaka in the next national elections, which the country's interim government has set for February 2026.

He was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka last Friday while launching his campaign for the elections.

Hadi was treated at a local hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced medical care, where he died after spending six days on life support.

Hadi is survived by his wife and only child, according to Bangladesh media reports. Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has declared that the government would take responsibility for them.

Dr Yunus also pledged that those involved in the youth leader's murder would be brought to justice.

MOURNING AND TRIBUTES

A one-day state mourning on Saturday was declared, with Dr Yunus describing Hadi as a “fearless fighter” and an “immortal soldier in the struggle against fascism and hegemony”, local media reported.

As part of the state mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast at all government, semi-government and autonomous institutions, educational establishments, private buildings, as well as Bangladesh missions abroad.

Dr Yunus said that the country must carry forward Hadi’s vision of building a new Bangladesh, adding: “This will be our true tribute to Shaheed Hadi.”

"His demise is an irreparable loss for the nation," Dr Yunus said in a televised speech.

Following Hadi’s death, there has been an outpouring of grief and tributes from figures like President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the National Citizen Party and Bangladesh government officials.

ANTI-INDIA SENTIMENT

Hadi’s death has deepened political tensions and heightened tensions with neighbouring India

After news of Hadi’s death, hundreds of people took to the streets of Dhaka and other parts of the country to demand that his killers be brought to justice.

Angry protesters also stormed the offices of Bangladesh’s two leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, accusing them of being aligned with neighbouring India.

They set fire to the buildings, trapping journalists and other staff members inside. 

The demonstrations were marked by emotionally charged slogans invoking Hadi’s name, with protesters vowing to continue their movement and demanding swift justice. Several areas remained tense, with additional police and paramilitary forces deployed to prevent further violence.

Clashes between protesters and police outside the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong also occurred on Friday.

The house of India's deputy ambassador to Bangladesh was also surrounded by hundreds of people, according to local news reports, but police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

A day earlier, India’s foreign ministry expressed its concerns over the "deteriorating" security environment in Bangladesh.

During Hasina’s tenure, Bangladesh became New Delhi’s strongest ally and remained a steady partner for more than 10 years. 

But the former prime minister’s critics have long accused New Delhi of propping up a corrupt and undemocratic regime.

India has denied the charge, but the claim gained significance when New Delhi gave Hasina refuge after her ousting in July last year. Ties between the neighbouring countries were also strained as Bangladesh called for her extradition. 

Following Hadi’s murder, local authorities said they have identified his murder suspects and that the shooter had most probably fled to India - remarks that sparked a new diplomatic squabble with India and prompted New Delhi this week to summon Bangladesh's envoy to express its condemnation. 

Bangladesh also summoned the Indian envoy to Dhaka to seek clarification.

TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosted an inaugural summit on Friday (Dec 19) with five Central Asia leaders, as Tokyo competes for influence in the resource-rich region.

Takaichi is meeting with counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan during a two-day conference in Tokyo, a month after United States President Donald Trump hosted all five in Washington.

The Central Asian leaders also held separate summits with Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Jinping and European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen this year.

Like the US and the EU, Japan is drawn by the region's enormous - but still mostly unexploited - natural resources in a push to diversify rare earths supplies and reduce dependence on Beijing.

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With Tokyo trailing its rivals, the summit is important for Japan to increase its presence, said Tomohiko Uyama, a professor at Hokkaido University specialising in Central Asian politics.

"Natural resources have become a strong focus, particularly in the past year, because of China's moves involving rare earths," Uyama told AFP, referencing tight export controls introduced this year by Beijing.

During the summit, Takaichi and the five leaders are expected to establish an "AI partnership" framework, aiming to use technology to explore mineral deposits in undeveloped mines, the Nikkei Asia business daily said.

Tokyo also plans to offer support to the development of the "Caspian Sea Route", a logistics network connecting to Europe without passing through Russia, the Mainichi Shimbun daily and other media reported.

Tokyo has long encouraged Japanese businesses to invest in the region, but they have so far remained cautious.

In 2024, then-prime minister Fumio Kishida planned to visit Kazakhstan to hold a summit meeting with the five regional leaders, but he had to cancel the trip at the last minute to deal with a major earthquake disaster in southern Japan.

Meanwhile, Xi visited Astana in June, and China - which shares borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - has presented itself as a main commercial partner, investing in huge infrastructure projects.

The ex-Soviet republics still see Moscow as a strategic partner but have been spooked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Among Japan's focus areas will be resource development, decarbonisation assistance and infrastructure help, Uyama said.

Other than rare earths, Kazakhstan is the world's largest uranium producer, Uzbekistan has giant gold reserves and Turkmenistan is rich in gas. Mountainous Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are also opening up new mineral deposits.

But exploiting these giant reserves remains complicated in the impoverished states with harsh and remote terrains.

BEIJING: China's military will step up training and "take forceful measures" to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the defence ministry said ⁠on Friday (Dec 19) in response to a planned US$11.1 billion United States arms sales package to Taiwan. 

The package, the largest ever by the US to the island Beijing views as its own territory, comes as China has been stepping up its military and political pressure on Taiwan.

The ministry ‍said it had lodged "stern ⁠representations" with ‍the US, and urged the country to immediately cease arms sales to Taiwan and abide by its commitment not to support "Taiwan independence ⁠forces".

"The 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, at the cost of the safety and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, ‍use the hard-earned money of ordinary people to fatten US arms dealers in an attempt to 'seek independence by relying on military force'," the ministry statement said.

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The United States, by repeatedly going back on its word, indulging and supporting Taiwan independence, is "bound to get burned itself", the ministry added.

"The Chinese People's Liberation Army will continue to strengthen training and combat ‌readiness, take strong measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely frustrate attempts at 'Taiwan independence' separatism and external interference."

It did ‍not ‌give details on what exact steps it might take.

Washington has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is the island's most important arms supplier. The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though such arms sales are a ‌persistent source of friction with China.

The latest weapons package includes HIMARS rocket systems, made by Lockheed Martin and which have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed into law a nearly US$1 trillion annual defence policy bill, which fully funds the Taiwan ‌Security Cooperation Initiative at US$1 billion and authorises funding for US forces to continue training for Taiwan.

Taiwan's defence ministry on Friday thanked the United States for those provisions, saying it would strengthen the island's armed forces' combat capabilities and ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and broader region.

Taiwan's democratically elected government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

China has rebuffed repeated offers of talks with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist". It has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the island.

At an open field surrounded by onlookers, a live band pounds out heavy drum beats as children dance nearby.

The music is loud, but the mood is sombre. No one in this temporary shelter in Thailand’s Buriram province is here by choice.

Villagers have fled from their homes near the border with Cambodia, where fierce clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of people in both countries.

This shelter is located at the Chang International Circuit, which normally hosts motorsports events like MotoGP. It is now sheltering about 15,000 Thais from frontline villages. 

"I couldn’t gather my belongings in time. What else am I supposed to do? We can’t go anywhere else."

SCENES MIRRORED IN CAMBODIA

SCENES OF DEVASTATION

Back in Thailand, the fighting on the frontlines is reportedly the heaviest in Sisaket province.

Its Kanthalarak district has been designated a “red zone” – a strict ban is in place for everybody except for military and other authorised personnel.

RELIEF EFFORTS 

JAKARTA: Victims of the recent deadly floods on Indonesia’s Sumatra island could receive government support, including a daily living allowance, household replacement aid and 15 million rupiah (US$896) in compensation for families of those killed in the disaster that has claimed more than 1,000 lives across three provinces.

As of Friday (Dec 18), the death toll has reached 1,068 people, with over 190 people still missing and about 7,000 injured in Aceh, West Sumatra and North Sumatra after Cyclone Senyar struck in late November.

About 577,600 residents have been displaced and more than 147,000 homes were destroyed, according to Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB).

Indonesia Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf said that the government is mulling a daily living allowance scheme for displaced victims. 

“Once there is temporary housing or permanent housing (available for them), there will be a living allowance provided for three months in which in each family, every individual will receive financial support of 10,000 rupiah per day,” Saifullah was quoted as saying by local news outlet Detik on Thursday. 

“The living allowance is 10,000 rupiah per individual. For example, a family of five would receive 50,000 rupiah daily for three months.” 

He added that the proposed allowance amount is still under discussion with the Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno, to ensure it meets current living standards. 

The government also plans to distribute 3 million rupiah to help affected households purchase and replace household furniture and other essential items that were damaged or lost, local media reported. 

“This is intended to help replace household items such as kitchen utensils, chairs, tables and other basic necessities,” he said on Thursday, as quoted by Detik.

COMPENSATION FOR DECEASED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED VICTIMS 

The government is also preparing compensation for deceased victims and those who are seriously injured.

Families of those who died will receive 15 million rupiah, while victims with serious injuries will receive 5 million rupiah, said Saifullah. 

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Saifullah said that his ministry has so far distributed over 100 billion rupiah in aid across the affected provinces. 

The minister also apologised if his ministry’s efforts so far have not been optimal, noting that the social affairs ministry will continue to provide assistance based on data collected on the ground in coordination with local governments. 

“The logistics from the Ministry of Social Affairs are indeed limited, but other ministries also provide logistical support, often more than our ministry. We are one team,” he said, as quoted by local media platform Kompas.

“We apologise if not all areas have been reached yet, but we are distributing all the resources available to the best of our ability.” 

Local media earlier reported that government aid has struggled to reach some remote areas. In some parts of Aceh, residents have put up white flags to signal that they can no longer cope with the worsening living conditions amid hunger, severe shortages and uncertainty over when sufficient assistance will arrive. 

TOKYO: Japan reaffirmed its decades-old pledge never to possess nuclear weapons on Friday (Dec 19) after local media reported that a senior security official suggested the country should acquire them to deter potential aggressors.

The unnamed official said Japan needed nuclear weapons because of a worsening security environment but acknowledged that such a move would be politically difficult, public broadcaster NHK and other outlets reported, describing the official as being from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's office.

At a ‍regular press briefing in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary ⁠Minoru ‍Kihara said Japan's nuclear policy had not changed, but declined to comment on the remarks or to say whether the person would remain in the post amid calls from opposition leaders for the official to be removed. There is a ⁠growing political and public willingness in Japan to loosen its three non-nuclear principles not to possess, develop or allow nuclear weapons into its territory, a Reuters investigation ‍published in August found.

While it remains a highly sensitive subject in the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, doubts over the reliability of US security guarantees under President Donald Trump and growing threats from nuclear-armed neighbours China, Russia and North Korea have re-ignited the debate.

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Some lawmakers within Takaichi's ruling party have said the United States should be allowed to bring nuclear weapons into Japan on submarines or other platforms to reinforce deterrence. Takaichi last month stirred debate on her own stance by declining to say whether there would be any changes to the three principles when her administration formulates a ‌new defence strategy next year.

"Putting these trial balloons out creates an opportunity to start to build consensus around the direction to move on changes in security policy," said Stephen Nagy, a politics professor at the International Christian ‍University in ‌Tokyo.

Beijing's assertiveness and growing missile cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang are "creating the momentum to really change Japan's thinking about security", he added.

Taro Kono, a senior ruling-party lawmaker and former defence and foreign minister, said on Friday that Japan should not shy away from a broader debate on the pros and cons of acquiring nuclear weapons.

Discussions about acquiring or hosting nuclear weapons have long been taboo due to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II and the country's pacifist constitution adopted after ‌its defeat. Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors that won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world, said in a statement that it "can never tolerate such a remark".

Such talk also risks drawing ire from neighbouring countries, including regional security rival China. "Should the information prove accurate, the situation would be extremely grave," Guo Jiakun, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a regular briefing when asked about the Japanese official's reported comments.

"For some time now, Japan has persistently pursued erroneous actions and rhetoric on military security matters."

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have soured since Takaichi last month said a Chinese attack on Taiwan that also threatened Japan could trigger a military response. China claims the democratically governed island.

South Korean actress-singer Bomi, 32, of K-pop girl group Apink has announced her marriage plans with South Korean producer Rado, 41, one-half of the acclaimed songwriting and production duo Black Eyed Pilseung, which has produced hits for the likes of Twice and Stayc.

On Thursday (Dec 18), following insider reports that the couple would be tying the knot soon, Bomi's agency With Us Entertainment confirmed the news in a statement, adding that Bomi is set to get married in May 2026 "with her precious partner who has stood by her side for a long time".

Bomi and Rado have been dating since 2017. However, their relationship only became public in 2024.

"Even after her marriage, Bomi plans to continue her activities without change as a member of Apink, as well as an actress and variety show entertainer. We will strive to repay the constant support from our fans by greeting you with even more maturity and responsibility," wrote With Us Entertainment.

In a separate statement, Rado's agency High Up Entertainment – where Rado serves as chief producer – affirmed that he plans to "continue dedicating himself to his music activities without change" even after marriage.

Bomi later uploaded a handwritten letter on Apink's fan cafe, apologising for the fact that her fans had to find out about the news via news articles first.

"I feel especially apologetic when I think about the hearts of fans who have always supported and loved someone as imperfect as me and about those who were happily looking forward to the news of an album coming out after three years. I worry and feel sorry knowing that you may have been surprised or felt disappointed," wrote Bomi.

She then confirmed the news, saying: "I have decided to spend my future life together with someone who has been by my side for a long time, sharing everyday life with me and staying with me through both joyful moments and times of uncertainty."

"Just as I have until now, I will continue to live my life without losing my sense of responsibility. Going forward, as Apink and also as Yoon Bomi, I will repay Pandas [fans of Apink] with even better activities."

Apink, whose hit songs include NoNoNo and Mr Chu, is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2026. The group, which also comprises Chorong, Eunji, Namjoo and Hayoung, last performed in Singapore in February this year.

Speaking to CNA Lifestyle, Apink had revealed that it was "working hard to prepare for a new album" and planned to "create more opportunities to meet fans more frequently and in a variety of places".

HONG KONG: Hong Kong residents offered flowers and bowed outside a funeral parlour on Friday (Dec 19) to pay tribute to a firefighter who was among the 160 people killed by the city's deadliest fire in decades.

Ho Wai-ho lost his life battling the massive blaze that engulfed seven buildings of a housing complex on Nov 26. He was 37. The fire services department has posthumously awarded him the title of senior fireman.

An array of wreaths lay outside the Universal Funeral Parlour, with thank-you cards from residents put up on its wall. Top officials, including Hong Kong leader John Lee, were among the funeral attendees.

After the ceremony, they stood outside the parlour to send off the hearse, which carried Ho’s portrait at the front. Dozens of firefighters raised a salute as Ho’s coffin, draped with a Hong Kong regional flag, departed.

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Before the funeral, some black-clad residents laid flowers at a mourning area outside the venue. One woman cried when she paid respect, and a man made a salute gesture.

Resident Andy Fong, who brought yellow flowers with him, said he hoped Ho could rest in peace.

“It's heartbreaking. Although we have never met, it has saddened every Hong Konger," he said.

Retiree Tse Pak-yin praised Ho for his bravery.

“I hope he will be happy. He still hasn't got married and it's such as pity,” he said.

Ho is survived by his parents, his two brothers and his fiancée.

The hearse headed to Wang Fuk Court, the site of the fire, for another ceremony before proceeding to Ho's fire station. At the station, colleagues paid their last tributes, with some officers marching on both sides of the hearse as it moved.

He will be laid to rest at Gallant Garden, a burial ground for civil servants who die in the line of duty.

In a Monday statement, the fire services department said Ho was an industrious, polite and dedicated member who was well respected by his colleagues.

The financial hub's worst blaze since 1948 broke out on Nov 26 at Wang Fuk Court, in the northern suburban district of Tai Po. It was undergoing a months-long renovation project with buildings covered by bamboo scaffolding and green netting.

Authorities have pointed to the substandard plastic nylon netting and foam boards installed on windows for contributing to the fire’s rapid spread.

Thousands of affected residents have moved to transitional homes, hotels and youth hostels, struggling to recover from the loss of lives and homes that took them years to buy. The tragedy pained many residents across the city.

While arrests were made, some residents have raised concerns about government oversight in building maintenance projects and official investigation efforts.

The government last week announced a judge-led independent committee to probe the cause and expected it to conclude the work within nine months, along with new requirements for checking the standards of netting.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Democratic Action Party (DAP) may be in the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition but in the past few weeks, its leaders have issued a series of bold demands, publicly pushing the very government they are part of.

Chief among these is the controversial call to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) that is awarded by independent Chinese-medium schools.

Currently, the UEC - generally considered academically equivalent to A levels -  is recognised by many top international universities and local private colleges but is not recognised by the government for entry into public universities or the civil service, meaning those who have obtained the UEC are not eligible for those institutions on that alone.

DAP's push met immediate resistance from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a partner in the unity government helmed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

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The Federation of Malaysian Islamic Students (GAMIS) - a non governmental organisation - also submitted a memorandum at the DAP’s Kuala Lumpur headquarters. The federation described DAP’s call as “a step backwards” in Malaysia’s education reform.

Some analysts interpreted DAP’s move as an attempt to reassure its core Chinese base that the party has not abandoned its ideological commitments — prompted by its recent drubbing in the Sabah state polls that were held on Nov 29.

Besides that, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo - who is DAP chairman - has criticised the police over a dress-code incident in Melaka, while former deputy law minister Ramkarpal Singh renewed calls for the total abolishment of the SOSMA security law.

Notably, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke also said in an interview with a Chinese language Youtube channel “The Keywords” that the party would reassess its role in the government if Anwar failed to deliver meaningful reforms within the next six months.

He however said that DAP would not withdraw support for the administration and risk political turmoil.

“After six months, whatever decision we make, we’ve already informed the prime minister that we will not withdraw our support for him, at least until the next general election,” Loke was quoted as saying by local news platform Malaysiakini.

“How we move forward, how we contest, how we prepare for the next general election - these will be discussed later.”

With 40 parliamentary seats in the 222-member lower house, DAP supplies the most seats to Anwar’s unity government made up of various coalitions besides PH.

However, former DAP Member of Parliament Ong Kian Ming told CNA that the party is facing a “crisis of confidence” not seen in decades.

“The party faces the real possibility that it could lose a significant chunk of support from its Chinese supporters in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, either through not coming out to vote or coming out to vote for ‘anyone but the DAP’,” said Ong, a former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry who is now an adjunct professor with Taylor’s University.

“DAP’s traditional urban voter base sees the party as someone who has been unfaithful in a marriage … ‘betrayed the voters' trust’ but has not yet divorced the party,” added Ong.

The timing of DAP’s demands — so soon after the Sabah electoral loss — has raised eyebrows among some experts.

In the 2020 Sabah election, the PH component party secured six seats out of seven it contested, some with super-majorities.

This time, however, it lost all eight seats it contested.

For a party that has long relied largely on unwavering backing by the Chinese urban electorate, the psychological blow was severe, triggering the vocal response from its leadership, said observers.

Despite the internal alarm in DAP, some analysts told CNA the party may be panicking for the wrong reasons, arguing that the localised results in Sabah do not necessarily signal a wholesale abandonment by the national electorate.

A “STRANGE AND WRONG MOVE”?

DAP leaders have been vocal recently about the need for reforms by the Anwar government.

Deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming who is Housing and Local Government Minister was reported to have said on Dec 7 that he planned to meet Anwar over UEC recognition.

While UEC is an issue that DAP has long pursued, it had not made the news for some time until Nga’s comments, which drew sharp reactions from various Malay-based political parties such as UMNO and the opposition’s Parti-Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).

Meanwhile, Gobind urged the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to issue a clear directive to police stations nationwide not to refuse victims or complainants the right to report an accident or crime due to their attire.

The latter came after two women were reportedly barred from entering the Jasin police headquarters in Melaka on Dec 8 because of clothing deemed "inappropriate" for a government building.

Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, who now serves as the DAP national adviser, had submitted a 10-point letter to Anwar, dated Dec 8, and made public on Dec 12, urging Anwar to fulfil the coalition's election manifesto promises and begin defending the rights of its core supporters more aggressively.

He said that these 10 critical areas — mainly economic matters — were essential to addressing a growing "trust deficit" among the public toward the administration.

Ong said it was not surprising that some leaders in the DAP would react strongly to its current situation by turning to certain issues that will appeal to its base.  

“This is indeed a calculated risk to put pressure on Prime Minister Anwar to fulfil one of the promises in the Pakatan Harapan Manifesto in 2018,” Ong said about the UEC demands.

PH’s 2018 general election manifesto promised UEC recognition, on the condition that university applicants obtained at least a credit in Malay in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, which are equivalent to the O-Levels.

When PH came into power in 2018, it had formed a task force to gather views on the UEC but the effort stalled after a change of government in 2020.

The promise was also included in the PH’s 2022 manifesto.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan of the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research told CNA that the "manner and timing" of DAP’s recent actions could suggest desperation.

“DAP is perceived to be in a very weak position. Pursuing UEC recognition now, just after a humiliating defeat, looks desperate. They made a very strange and wrong move,” he said.

Ong added that DAP’s public push for UEC was strategically risky.

“A more nuanced and quiet approach of getting consensus within the Cabinet to recognise the UEC as an examination into public universities with a pass in SPM Malay for example but not asking for the UEC to be recognised as an entry into the civil service would have been a compromise which the Cabinet could have deliberated on and agreed upon, within a reasonable time frame,” he said. 

Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin posited that DAP’s moves came about as it had entered a state of panic, fearing that the sentiments in Sabah could trigger a spillover effect in Sarawak before eventually reaching Peninsular Malaysia.

He said in his popular Keluar Sekejap podcast that this set the tone for DAP’s top leaders to then launch a coordinated revival of its traditional reformist pillars: Education equality, civil liberties and economic justice.

According to Khairy, DAP would have felt pressured to demonstrate its core identity to ward off accusations of “becoming the next MCA (Malaysia Chinese Association)”, a party whose long-standing role within Barisan Nasional (BN) - a partner coalition in the unity government - has been overshadowed by its perceived subservience to UMNO.

DAP currently holds five full ministerial positions in the Cabinet.

Multi-racial in outlook but predominantly Chinese in composition, it draws much of its support from urban voters in big towns and cities across Malaysia.

“DAP is just merely trying to make the right noises. Both the MCA and Gerakan had been through the same path. Why didn't they (DAP) push for the UEC as part of the requirements to support and participate in the Madani government?,” said independent analyst Khoo Kay Peng.

The Chinese-majority Gerakan, which was formerly a BN party, is now part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition coalition.

An aide to a DAP minister told CNA on the condition of anonymity that he thought the government has not done enough in terms of reforms - both institutional and economic.  

He cited the example of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, specifically highlighting how Chief Commissioner Azam Baki — once a target of intense criticism and calls for resignation from PH — remains at the helm under the current administration.

“It’s all about political will. But it’s not only DAP that is worried. The other PH parties are worried about the Sabah results as well,” he said.    

In response to DAP’s push on the UEC, Anwar had said earlier this month that any matters that touch on religious, racial and ethnic sensitivities must take into account the position of Malay as the national language in the country’s Constitution.

On Wednesday, speaking to editors from local and international media, Anwar said that starting next year, the government would take bolder steps in addressing issues deemed sensitive and controversial, including matters related to enforcement, language, and race.

"I feel the time has come for us to move more boldly, starting next year, on delayed issues considered sensitive or controversial. We must face them with greater firmness and courage, including the effectiveness of enforcement agencies and decisiveness in taking action,” he said, as cited by local news platform Bernama. 

He did not specify the exact issues. 

PANICKING “FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS”

Some analysts however said that DAP had misread the reasons behind its defeat in Sabah and that its showing was caused by a surge of state nationalism in the state.

James Chin, a professor of Asian studies from the University of Tasmania, said that this sentiment does not exist in the same way in Peninsular Malaysia.

“It’s very much the rise of state nationalism more than anything else. For me DAP panicked for all the wrong reasons,” he said, adding that MCA and Gerakan were unlikely to get the Chinese's support. 

Azmi concurred with Chin, saying that unlike voters in Peninsular Malaysia, those in Sabah could turn to regional options like Warisan or Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as alternatives to the established parties.

“In Peninsular Malaysia, voters still need to vote for DAP to protect and champion their cause,” he said. 

However, observers said that there is a risk of future voter apathy.

“There's a real gap of a good opposition party, a role once played by the DAP. But that doesn't mean they will continue to support the party. There won't be a real enthusiasm to turn out to vote,” Khoo said. 

Agreeing, Ong said it was likely that many of the Chinese voters may simply choose not to turn out for the next election rather than to vote for another coalition, especially in Peninsular Malaysia. 

DAP HAS TO BE “CLEVER AND CAREFUL"

There is no easy fix for the DAP, as the party is currently trapped in a political Catch-22, said observers. 

“One strategy now being quietly floated is for the DAP to distance itself from the unity government without withdrawing parliamentary support for Anwar,” said former diplomat Dennis Ignatius in a blog post on Dec 16.  

Chin said the most important thing for DAP is to push Anwar to revive the economy and stop playing the political Islamic card. 

“Anwar has been chasing the Malay or Islamic card since coming into power. The Chinese are telling him that there is nothing he can do to win the Malay votes, so why don’t you fix the economy and then the Malays will come back because they can see the economy is doing well,” he said.  

Ong meanwhile said that DAP is caught between a rock and a hard place. It would have to get Anwar to agree to certain policy concessions - especially in the areas of institutional and economic reform - but in ways that are broad-based and do not necessarily alienate BN. 

This was so that the party could “sell” a narrative to its supporters that it has and can continue to deliver its promises to its supporters.

“There are many ways to do this, but the DAP has to be clever and careful in negotiating these parameters with PM Anwar Ibrahim and this is best done in private rather than in public,” he said.

As part of a Dec 16 Cabinet reshuffle, Anwar reassigned two key DAP figures to different ministerial posts, a move Azmi said was telling.

Hannah Yeoh moved from Youth and Sports Minister to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) and Steven Sim switched from Human Resources Minister to become Minister for Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.

Nga also retained his Housing and Local Government Minister post.

“It shows that Anwar wants to alleviate DAP and wants to help give a signal to their supporters that DAP is well and alive in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Azmi.

“These three particular portfolios are very close to Chinese interests. It will be up to the three ministers to do the job and the ball is now at their feet,” he added.

Azmi believes that while Anwar is unlikely to feel pressured by DAP, the prime minister recognises that a stable DAP is essential to PH and its electoral prospects.  

“Anwar needs a strong DAP, not a weak one because PKR and (moderate Islamic party) Amanah have been supported by DAP supporters during elections. 

"A strong DAP will make it easier for them to win elections, but a weak DAP will spell trouble for them, especially when the next general election is of concern,” he added. 

Chin however believed that Anwar would likely stop short of a firm promise, simply "noting" the DAP’s demands. 

“It is a nice way of saying you can say whatever you want, but I am still the boss and I will do what I want,” he said.  

When actor Amy Baik was cast in a South Korean commercial last year, she thought she had landed a promising gig.

But after filming wrapped, she was shocked to learn that both the director and advertiser had cut her scenes – not because of her performance, but because she lacked a facial feature prized in South Korean beauty standards.

“The reason was that I don’t have double eyelids,” said Baik, 26.

“After receiving that feedback, I started to reconsider what kind of appearance Korea wants," she said, adding it "made me wonder how I can survive as an actor in South Korea.”

That experience pushed her toward a different market. The global success of Parasite, Minari and Squid Game has opened doors for South Korean performers in Hollywood – and spawned a cottage industry of consultants helping actors navigate American casting.

“Hollywood’s the dream (...) the ultimate pinnacle of acting accolades,” said Julia Kim, a Korean American casting director who worked on Minari, Amazon Prime’s Butterfly and KPop Demon Hunters.

While established stars like Park Hae-soo and Lee Byung-hun have both South Korean and American representation, most aspiring Korean actors lack such connections. That gap is what talent agencies like Los Angeles-based Upstage Entertainment are trying to bridge.

Alison Dumbell, a co-founder of Upstage with experience in Bollywood and Los Angeles, said she has noticed more demands for “characters that are specifically Korean” than generic “East Asian” ones from Western producers. She attributes that shift partly to the global popularity of South Korean entertainment.

Still, stereotypes persist. “The one that irritates me is the nerdy tech programmer," Dumbell said. “Sometimes I just won’t even submit my actor for that because I know that they’re much more nuanced as actors.”

MULTIPLE CHALLENGES

For most South Korean actors without connections or know-how, Hollywood is still uncharted territory.

Kim, who typically casts high-profile stars and works with local casting directors for co-productions, also finds actors via social media. “I usually put out an open call on my Instagram,” she said.

But for actors without major agency backing, the right contacts are hard to find. The American and Korean industries operate differently, and US casting information rarely reaches those outside established networks.

Kim said South Korean talent faces a steep learning curve. “I would get questions – should I change my Korean name to a Western name? Do I pay to get an agent? Can I look into the camera when I’m doing an audition?” she said. Even name consistency is an issue: Kim recalled a K-pop artist turned actor whose name appeared five different ways online.

Technical standards also differ. Actor Misun Youm noted American audition tapes require clean white backgrounds, while “in Korea, it doesn’t matter.”

Headshots diverge too: South Korean profiles feature modellike images, while American headshots match character types.

“In Korea, you shoot profile photos like a fashion magazine model,” said veteran actor Shin Ju-hwan, who goes by Julian Shin. He played a masked soldier in second and third seasons of Squid Game, and stars in Taxi Driver Season 3.

Shin found Upstage by chance – his wife, a producer, discovered them on LinkedIn.

His Hollywood dream was partly motivated by colleagues at his former agency – Han Yeri in Minari and Jung Ho-yeon in Squid Game.

“Even though I wasn’t a main character – I was just a ‘soldier’ – people who saw even that brief appearance started leaving comments on my Instagram,” Shin said. “The impact of that show was truly unparalleled.”

LANGUAGE AND ACCENTS 

Shin took an intensive approach to English, transcribing over 30,000 English words and expressions from the internet, then using AI to check if any phrases were outdated. “Idioms are really fun,” he said. ”‘Break a leg’ or ‘hold your horses’ – learning those makes you feel closer to being native.”

The accent question looms large.

Devon Overman, another co-founder of Upstage who coaches English line delivery, said “it’s perfectly fine, even preferable to have an accent because the accent is part of who you are."

She focuses on intonation. “When native Korean speakers are trying to read English lines, it sounds like they’re reading. That’s the hardest thing to break," she said.

But consultants aren’t pushing actors to erase their identity. Shin recalled Dumbell advising him not to sound too “American-ish.” “She said people would prefer my genuine pronunciation,” he said.

PUSH FACTORS

For Shin, the pivot came as opportunities in South Korea contracted.

“Starting three years ago, I realized this industry was getting harder,” he said. “Since the Korean market was struggling, I thought I should broaden my horizons to international markets.”

Age discrimination is also driving some actors abroad. Youm, 29, said in South Korea “30 isn’t considered young."

“There are some limitations when it comes to finding an agency or auditioning for a role,” she said.

Shin, in his 40s, was given a chance to audition for a 20-something character for an international production. “In Korean audition tapes, you usually say your age,” he noted. “In the US (…) they don’t.”

ACTORS SEE A SHIFT

Baik, who got a minor role in the Netflix teen romantic comedy XO, Kitty, now sees her features as assets abroad.

After feedback from American casting directors, she said she learned “I could do action roles and break free from the ‘cute’ image.”

She also found working with an international crew an eye-opening experience, and came to appreciate aspects of the American work culture. “In Korea, overtime was routine. In the American market, you clock in and clock out like an office worker," she said. "It was more efficient.”

She said her ongoing journey to Hollywood has taught her to trust herself.

“At first, everyone said it would be impossible (...) ‘Only famous Korean actors can do this,’” she recalled. "But after watching me fly overseas and make everything happen with my own hands...I can say with certainty from my experience that Hollywood is ready to open its doors to anyone.”

Shin, who hopes to play a villain in American productions, sees a shift.

“There was a time when it seemed like you had to roll your R’s and act like an American… But now it feels like you can be yourself – be Korean if you’re Korean,” Shin said. “Stereotypes are gradually crumbling.”

WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump's administration has launched a review that could result in ⁠the first shipments to China of Nvidia's second-most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) chips, five sources said, making good on his pledge to allow the controversial sales.

Trump this month said he would allow sales of Nvidia's H200 chips to China, with the US government collecting a 25 per cent fee, and that the sales would help keep US firms ahead of Chinese chipmakers by cutting demand for Chinese chips.

The move drew fire from China hawks across the US political spectrum over concerns the chips would supercharge Beijing's military and erode the US ‍advantage in artificial intelligence. But questions have remained about ⁠how ‍quickly the US might approve such sales and whether Beijing would allow Chinese firms to purchase the Nvidia chips.

The US Commerce Department, which oversees export policy, has sent license applications for the chip sales to the State, Energy and Defense Departments ⁠for review, the sources said on condition of anonymity because the process is not public.

Those agencies have 30 days to weigh in, according to export regulations.

One of ‍the sources, an administration official, emphasised the review would be thorough and "not some perfunctory box we are checking".

But under the regulations, the final decision rests with Trump.

The start of the inter-agency licensing review has not been reported previously. The Commerce Department and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A White House spokesperson did not comment on the review, but said "the Trump administration is committed to ensuring the dominance of the American tech stack – without compromising on national security".

BIDEN HAD BANNED ADVANCED AI CHIP SALES TO CHINA

The Biden administration had imposed a raft of restrictions on advanced AI chip sales to China and countries it ‌feared could become conduits for smuggling into the rival nation, citing national security fears.

Trump's move represents a departure from that policy and a dramatic reversal from his first term, when he drew international attention by cracking down on Chinese ‍access ‌to US technology. Back then, he cited claims that Beijing steals American intellectual property and harnesses commercially obtained technology to bolster its military, which Beijing denies.

Exporting large numbers of the chips to China would be "a significant strategic mistake", said Chris McGuire, a former White House National Security Council official under President Joe Biden and senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations.

McGuire described the chips as "the one thing holding China back in AI".

"I cannot possibly fathom how the departments of Commerce, State, Energy, and Defense could certify that exporting these chips to China is in ‌the US national security interest,” he said.

Led by White House AI czar David Sacks, several members of the Trump administration now argue that shipping advanced AI chips to China discourages Chinese competitors like Huawei from redoubling efforts to catch up with Nvidia's and AMD's most-advanced chip designs.

Reuters reported last week that Nvidia was considering an increase in production of the H200, the immediate predecessor to its current flagship Blackwell chips, after initial orders from China outstripped the current capacity.

While the H200 chips are slower than Nvidia's Blackwell chips at many AI tasks, they remain in wide use in the industry and have never been allowed for sale in China.

Trump had previously opened the door to sales of a less-advanced version of Nvidia's Blackwell chips, its cutting-edge offering, but backed away from the ‌move and approved sales of the H200 instead.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Dec 18) confirmed that he wants to send astronauts back to the Moon as soon as possible, putting eventual Mars missions on the back burner.

In an executive order on his space policy, Trump said he wanted to get Americans to the Moon by 2028, under NASA's Artemis programme launched during his first White House term.

Such a lunar landing would "assert American leadership in space, lay the foundations for lunar economic development, prepare for the journey to Mars, and inspire the next generation of American explorers", the order says.

It also says the US space agency NASA hopes to set up "initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030" and confirms plans to deploy nuclear reactors "on the Moon and in orbit".

Americans are currently scheduled to return to the Moon's surface in mid-2027 on the Artemis 3 mission, but the timeline has been repeatedly pushed back.

And industry experts say it likely will be delayed again because the lunar lander in development at Elon Musk's SpaceX is not yet ready.

Trump's executive order puts increased pressure on both NASA and the private space sector to reach the administration's objectives.

The United States is keen to bypass China, which also intends to send a crew to the Moon by 2030 and set up a base there.

Putting the priority on a lunar mission represents a policy shift from what Trump had said earlier this year.

When he returned to the White House in January, the Republican said he wanted to put the American flag on Mars before the end of his four-year term, without mentioning any such plans for the Moon.

That announcement has sown doubt on the administration's priorities in space, and propelled fears that NASA was going to skip over the Moon altogether.

But now, even though Washington has long said it wants to be the first nation to send humans to Mars, that reality seems farther away.

The row in June between Trump and Musk, who is passionate about Mars exploration, along with other pressing geopolitical concerns, may have shifted Trump's ambitions.

HELSINKI: Finland’s government is facing heavy pressure and accusations of racism from several Asian countries after its representative to the 2025 Miss Universe pageant was seen pulling the corners of her eyes in a photo - and some Finnish politicians posted their own photos repeating the gesture.

Sarah Dzafce lost her Miss Finland crown last week after a photo posted on social media of her pulling the skin at the corners of her eyes went viral late last month. The photo, and its caption reading “eating with a Chinese”, was decried by governments and commentators across Finland and Asia as discrimination against Asians.

Dzafce, who won Miss Finland in September, has told Finnish media that she was trying to alleviate a headache. The Helsinki Times reported that she said a friend had shared the private image and wrote the caption without her input. Dzafce did not respond to The Associated Press's request for comment Thursday.

Dzafce posted an apology to social media on Dec 8 and said it was never her intention to hurt anyone.

“The Miss Finland title is not just a crown for me, but also a responsibility. A responsibility for how I speak, how I act, and how my actions can affect people,” she wrote in Finnish.

She added, “I take responsibility for my actions and will learn from this.”

Days later, the Miss Finland Organisation revoked her status as Miss Finland 2025 - known as Miss Suomi in Finnish.

“The events of recent days have caused deep hurt, disappointment, and concern both in Finland and internationally - fully understandably,” the organisation wrote on social media. “We are deeply sorry for the harm these events have caused. Especially to the Asian community, but also to everyone affected. Racism is never acceptable in any form.”

The controversy snowballed when several far-right Finnish politicians rallied around Dzafce after she lost her crown. Members of the parliament who are part of the ruling coalition posted their own photos of themselves pulling the skin around their eyes.

The furore has spread throughout Asia, prompting Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo to issue an apology to several countries, including Japan and South Korea, through statements in their languages posted to Finnish embassy social media accounts.

“These posts do not reflect Finland’s values of equality and inclusion,” Orpo's statement said. "Racism and discrimination have no place in Finnish society. Our message in Finland and to all our friends abroad is that the Government takes racism seriously and is committed to combat the issue. Finland always aims to do better. Politicians have a responsibility to serve as examples in this respect.”

Japan’s government has reached out to the Finnish embassy in Tokyo expressing its concerns.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the government's top spokesperson, said Japan hopes to maintain close communication with Helsinki.

“I understand that Finnish Prime Minister issued a statement expressing his deepest apology for the recent insulting posts made on social media by some parliamentarians,” Kihara said. “As the Japanese government, we have conveyed via the local embassy our concern about the case and expectations for an appropriate response.”

Finland is a major tourist destination for visitors from Asia, and some users on social platform X have called for a boycott of travel to Finland and of Finnair, the country's largest airline.

Päivyt Tallqvist, the airline’s senior vice president of communications, told Finnish broadcaster Yle that the scandal has hurt the company's international operations without providing details.

DHAKA: Violence broke out in Bangladesh's capital early on Friday (Dec 19) after a youth leader of the country's 2024 pro-democracy uprising who was injured in an assassination attempt died in a hospital in Singapore.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was announced, to demand that his killers be arrested.

Several buildings in the capital, including those housing the country's two leading newspapers, were set on fire, according to authorities, with staff trapped inside.

Hadi was a key figure in last year's uprising that ended the autocratic rule of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and sent her fleeing to India. He was running for a parliament seat in the February 2026 national election.

On Dec 12, Hadi was shot by masked assailants as he was leaving a mosque in Dhaka. He was airlifted to a hospital in Singapore for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday.

At least three cases of arson were reported in Dhaka after the news of his death spread, a spokesperson for the Fire Brigade and Civil Defence force told AFP, including a fire at the Daily Star building and another at a building housing the Prothom Alo newspaper.

The two papers are the largest in the South Asian country, but protesters accused them of being aligned with neighbouring India, where Hasina has taken refuge.

Zyma Islam, a reporter for the Daily Star said she was trapped inside the burning building.

"I can't breathe anymore. There's too much smoke. I am inside. You are killing me," she wrote on her Facebook page.

The fire at the Daily Star building was brought under control at 1.40am (3.40am, Singapore time), firefighting officials said.

However, 27 employees were still inside.

"We took refuge at the rear of the building and could hear them chanting slogans," Ahmed Deepto, a Star reporter, told AFP, referring to protesters.

The house of India's deputy ambassador to Bangladesh was also surrounded by hundreds of people who were trying to demonstrate in a sit-in, but police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, according to local news reports.

In addition, protesters blocked a key highway connecting the capital with the central city of Mymensingh and attacked the residence of a former minister in Chittagong in the country's southeast, according to footage shown on local television.

Protesters also attacked Chhayanaut, a centre in Dhaka devoted to Bengali culture.

"AN IRREPARABLE LOSS TO THE NATION"

Earlier on Friday, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that Hadi had died in hospital in the country.

"Mr Sharif Osman Hadi was evacuated by air from Bangladesh to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit on Dec 15, 2025, to receive emergency medical treatment," MFA said.

"Despite the best efforts of the doctors from SGH and the National Neuroscience Institute, Mr Hadi succumbed to his injuries on Dec 18, 2025.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assisting the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore with the arrangements to repatriate the late Mr Hadi to Bangladesh."

In Dhaka, the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus confirmed Hadi's death.

"His demise is an irreparable loss for the nation," Yunus said in a televised speech.

"The country's march toward democracy cannot be halted through fear, terror, or bloodshed."

The government also announced special prayers at mosques on Friday and a half-day of mourning on Saturday.

Hadi, a senior leader of the student protest group Inqilab Mancha, was an outspoken critic of India, where Hasina remains in self-imposed exile.

MANHUNT FOR GUNMAN

Bangladeshi police, meanwhile, have launched a manhunt for Hadi's shooters, releasing photographs of two key suspects and offering a reward of 5 million taka (about US$42,000) for information leading to their arrest.

Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner leading Bangladesh until the Feb 12 vote, has called the shooting a premeditated attack carried out by a powerful network aimed at derailing the election.

Muslim-majority Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people, will directly vote for 300 lawmakers for its parliament, with another 50 selected on a women's list.

The last elections, held in January 2024, gave Hasina a fourth straight term and her Awami League 222 seats, but were decried by opposition parties as a sham.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by three-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is widely tipped to win the upcoming vote.

Zia is in intensive care in Dhaka, and her son and political heir, Tarique Rahman, is set to return from exile in Britain after 17 years on Dec 25.