The U1 robot can hold conversations and even be customised to resemble loved ones or celebrities. UBTech is targeting single people and those aged over 60, positioning the lifelike android as a companion to help combat loneliness.

The jolt struck at a depth of 120km, around 58km west of Tobelo.

Aakash Desai, chief investment officer & head of private credit at 360 ONE Asset, sees Indian private credit as transitioning from an opportunistic trade to a strategic allocation. Supported by strong macro growth, structural credit inefficiencies and improving institutional frameworks, the asset class offers investors access to a scalable, high-yielding and defensively structured opportunity set.

Oil prices edged up but held recent losses fuelled by increased traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and on hopes for progress in US-Iran talks.

As the US celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, Southeast Asia still has questions about its reliability as a partner, says Kevin Chen from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Campaign debates in the Johor state election have increasingly centred on issues sensitive to Chinese Malaysians. This could prove decisive in some mixed and Chinese-majority constituencies, say analysts.