News

As 2025 drew to a close, global K-pop group BTS set off intense online speculation without releasing any music or teasers. Instead, a modest New Year gift to fans proved enough to send ARMY into a frenzy.

On December 30, selected South Korean fans with gold ARMY memberships received a postcard from BTS. While it appeared to be a standard New Year greeting, fans quickly noticed a small detail beneath a newly unveiled logo: the date March 20, 2026.

BTS teases ‘2026.03.20’ in message to membership fans, sparking comeback date speculation. pic.twitter.com/dkR7W316XI

— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster...

The Bangkok South Kwaeng Court delivered the verdict on 26 December, finding that Anne, co-founder of JKN Global Group, misled an investor into purchasing company bonds while concealing the firm’s financial difficulties. The court also imposed fines on the company.

Anne, 46, did not appear in court and remains at large. Thai authorities have issued an arrest warrant, describing her failure to attend hearings as an attempt to evade justice. Local media reports claim she converted large sums of money into cryptocurrency before fleeing Thailand and is believed to be hiding in South America.

The case stems from...

A South Korean writer has shared a positive personal reflection on life in Tashkent, describing her first year in Uzbekistan as an experience that reshaped her views on culture, safety and everyday life.

In an opinion piece published by The Korea Times, Park Gi-hyun writes that she moved to Tashkent nearly a year ago after her husband was assigned to work in Uzbekistan. She admits that before the relocation she knew little about the country or its capital and initially felt anxious about the move.

Her first encounter with Uzbek society came during the flight to Tashkent, where...

A formal handover ceremony took place on 29 December in Hairatan, located in Balkh Province, where humanitarian cargo sent on behalf of the leadership of Uzbekistan was officially transferred to the Afghan side.

The shipment, weighing around 390 tonnes, was assembled at the Termez Cargo Centre and includes food supplies, medicines and medical equipment intended to support the Afghan population during the winter period.

During the inspection, Balkh Province Governor M. Wafo expressed gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for the continued assistance, describing the delivery as a clear demonstration of Uzbekistan’s consistent support for the Afghan people.

Mervyn Kersh, 101, received the honour in recognition of his wartime service and decades spent speaking in schools about Holocaust remembrance. While he said fighting for his country had been «worth it», he expressed concern about rising intolerance.

Kersh, who landed in Normandy aged just 19, said his work with young people has not always had the impact he hoped for.

«What’s disappointing is the antisemitism that I see everywhere, hear everywhere, or read,» he said, adding that society must guard against repeating mistakes made before the Second World War.

Despite his...

Ebo Noah, also known as Ebo Enoch, told followers that a catastrophic global flood forecast for 25 December had been delayed due to «divine mercy». The announcement came amid growing anger over claims that funds raised for building arks were instead spent on a luxury Mercedes-Benz worth about £74,000.

Noah rose to prominence on TikTok after posting videos from Elmina, where he claimed to be constructing arks following a divine vision. His warnings of a three-year flood attracted more than 1.3 mln followers, with believers from Ghana and neighbouring countries donating money and travelling to Elmina in anticipation.

When Christmas...

Authorities said 62 high-end motorcycles, including multiple Ducatis, were confiscated alongside two vehicles, artwork and a pair of Olympic medals during December operations targeting four locations. Images released by the FBI’s Los Angeles division showed rows of premium bikes stored inside a warehouse.

Ryan Wedding, who represented Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, is accused by US authorities of running one of the most powerful cocaine trafficking networks supplying Canada. The US Department of Justice claims Wedding oversaw the movement of up to 60,000kg of cocaine annually, working with Mexican cartels and Colombian criminal groups.

The 44-year-old, who...

The car has been designed specifically for Formula 1’s new technical era, which will introduce 50% electrification, sustainable fuels and active aerodynamics. Ferrari engineers are developing a completely new power unit, featuring an aluminium alloy cylinder head and a closely guarded intake system, alongside a return to pushrod suspension at both the front and rear for the first time since 2010.

Ferrari plans a two-stage approach to pre-season testing. An initial version of Project 678 will run in late January, focusing on reliability and system checks, before a more advanced B-spec car appears during February testing in Bahrain...

Hundreds of students rallied for a third consecutive day at four universities in Tehran, joining shopkeepers who blocked roads and chanted slogans against economic hardship. Some demonstrators voiced support for Reza Shah, the founder of Iran’s former royal dynasty, while social media posts described frustration over inflation and corruption reaching a «breaking point».

In an unusual move, the government said it would seek dialogue with protest organisers.

«We officially recognise the protests,» said government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, acknowledging pressure on household livelihoods.

President Masoud Pezeshkian told trade unions and market representatives...

Uzbekistan’s foreign policy in 2025 looked less like classic «summit diplomacy» and more like a steady campaign to be present in other countries through culture, tourism promotion, technology partnerships and education links. This was not only about image. It was also a practical effort to build trust with investors, expand exports, attract visitors, connect the diaspora and position Uzbekistan as a serious partner in a competitive global economy.

Below are the clearest patterns from 2025, based solely on publicly verifiable events and official or primary sources.

London became a flagship stage for cultural diplomacy and business promotion

Culture as...

The overnight operation hit two ships carrying weapons and combat vehicles intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), according to the Saudi state news agency SPA. Riyadh said the strike was conducted at night to minimise collateral damage and described the UAE-backed activity as a threat to regional security.

The attack has sharply escalated tensions between the two Gulf allies, which back rival factions in Yemen’s civil war. Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised Yemeni government, while the UAE backs the STC, which is seeking independence for the former state of South Yemen.

In response, Yemen’s government declared...

All eight Harry Potter films, along with the Fantastic Beasts spin-off trilogy, are set to disappear from Netflix on New Year’s Eve, ending a two-year run that began in 2023. Subscribers have been greeted with «leaving soon» notices across the franchise, triggering widespread frustration on social media.

Viewers will lose access to every instalment, from Philosopher’s Stone through to Deathly Hallows – Part 2, as well as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore. Some users have even threatened to cancel their subscriptions following the removals.

The Harry Potter...

Authorities from Sydney to Paris and Tokyo have moved to scrap concerts and public countdowns following warnings of potential terror threats and crowd safety risks. The cancellations come after the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it had foiled an alleged New Year’s Eve bombing plot near Los Angeles, arresting four suspects during what prosecutors described as a rehearsal in the Mojave Desert.

In Australia, officials cancelled New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach, citing public safety concerns and heightened sensitivity following a recent deadly shooting. In Paris, a large music concert planned for the Champs-Elysees was called off after police...

Bandar Apna Dost, which publishes short, AI-produced clips paired with simple storytelling, has amassed more than 2 bn views, making it the most-watched channel globally in the so-called «AI slop» category. Analysts estimate the channel generates around ₹37 crore a year, equivalent to more than $4.25mln, placing it among the most profitable AI-driven creators on the platform.

The rise of Bandar Apna Dost reflects a broader surge in automated content on YouTube. Research by Kapwing suggests that more than 20% of videos recommended to new YouTube Shorts users are either fully or partially AI-generated, underlining how widespread the...

On 29 December, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov met with Israel’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Gideon Lustig to review the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations.

During the meeting, both sides noted the positive momentum in Uzbek–Israeli trade and highlighted significant potential for further growth and diversification. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening direct contacts between business communities and enhancing practical cooperation between relevant institutions.

Key discussion points included attracting new investment, expanding industrial cooperation, launching joint projects, and creating favourable conditions for the long-term presence of Israeli companies in the Uzbek economy.

Documents released to the National Archives reveal Blair’s response to internal briefings in 2005 concerning the death of Baha Mousa, who died after being beaten by British troops while in custody in Basra in 2003.

In handwritten notes on an official memo, Blair rejected the possibility that the case could be transferred to a civilian court, writing «It must not!» next to a passage outlining that option. He later stressed that it was «essential» the matter be kept away from both the civilian justice system and the International Criminal Court.

The case ultimately proceeded through a military court...

Abramovich sold Chelsea in May 2022 for about £4.25bn after direct intervention by the UK government, which approved the deal on the condition that £2.35bn of his proceeds be donated to humanitarian causes linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Nearly three years on, the money has yet to be released.

The funds are held by Fordstam Ltd, a UK-registered company controlled by Abramovich, which carries significant debt to its parent firm, Camberley International Investments. Camberley is based in Jersey, a jurisdiction whose authorities froze assets linked to Abramovich in 2022 as part of an undisclosed criminal investigation.

London...

The proposed rail tunnel would run beneath the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting southern Spain with northern Morocco. A study commissioned by the Spanish government and carried out by German engineering firm Herrenknecht found that drilling such a tunnel is achievable using current technology.

Following the report, Spanish consultancy Ineco has been tasked with preparing a detailed blueprint by the end of next year, raising hopes that government approval could be granted as early as 2027. The project is overseen by SECEGSA and its Moroccan counterpart SNED.

The tunnel would stretch around 26 miles, with nearly 17 miles running...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is increasing support for micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Uzbekistan. The bank doing so by expanding access to green finance under its Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF II) programme.

Through GEFF II Uzbekistan, the EBRD will provide a loan of up to $30 mln to Hamkorbank. The funding will help the bank expand energy-efficiency lending to companies and households nationwide. Borrowers will be able to upgrade production processes, cut energy use and strengthen resilience to climate risks.

The financing will be complemented by concessional co-financing from the Canadian government...

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev strongly condemned a reported attempt to attack the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Nizhny Novgorod region. He made the remarks during a phone call with the Russian leader.

On Thursday, December 29, Russian authorities said Ukraine had attempted to carry out the attack. Kyiv rejected the allegation, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it false.

«They are simply preparing the ground to launch strikes on the capital and state buildings,» Zelensky said.

The statement from Russia also drew comments from US President Donald Trump, who...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He highlighted strong demand and the revenue generated for football globally.

Fan groups criticised the high cost of tickets, which were several times higher than those for the 2022 tournament. In response, FIFA introduced a $60 ticket tier to make matches more accessible for supporters of qualified teams.

Infantino said that of the six to seven mln tickets on sale, FIFA received 150 mln requests within 15 days, an average of 10 mln per day.

Meta will acquire Manus, a Singapore-based AI startup founded in China, as the company accelerates its push to integrate advanced AI across its services.

Financial terms were not officially disclosed. A source familiar with the deal valued Manus at between $2 bn and $3 bn. The firm gained attention earlier this year after claiming to launch the world’s first general AI agent, capable of making decisions and completing tasks with minimal prompting compared with traditional AI chatbots.

Beijing has expressed interest in supporting Manus, which claims its AI agent outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch. The startup also has a strategic partnership...

Beyonce has officially been declared a billionaire by Forbes, making her the fifth musician to join the list of the world’s wealthiest artists.

She joins an exclusive group of musicians with ten-figure fortunes, including Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen and her husband Jay-Z, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $2.5 bn (£1.85 bn).

Earlier this month, Forbes valued Beyoncé at $800 mln (£593 mln) and predicted she would surpass the billionaire mark after years of success.

Her 2023 Renaissance World Tour grossed nearly $600 mln, cementing her status as one of the top pop icons globally alongside Taylor...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has added three companies to its register of microfinance organisations, the regulator’s press service said. The decision was approved by the bank’s board.

The newly registered firms are ADL MOLIYA MMT, PRIZMA KAPITAL and AVO FINANCE. The registrations were carried out under board resolutions No. 156, 157 and 158. All three companies are registered as limited liability entities.

The microfinance market in Uzbekistan has expanded rapidly. In the first nine months of 2025, the volume of microfinance services reached 104 trln soums ($8.6 bn), up 1.8 times compared with the same period last year.

Banks...