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Mattel has unveiled an Autistic Barbie as part of its expanding range of inclusive dolls, aiming to better reflect neurodiversity and disability among children.

The new doll features design elements intended to mirror common autistic traits, including a softer facial expression, more flexible joints, and accessories such as noise-cancelling headphones, a fidget toy and a tablet with a communication app. Mattel said the doll was developed with input from autism advocates and follows earlier releases including dolls representing blindness, Down syndrome, limb differences and diabetes.

However, the launch has drawn criticism from some members of the autistic community...

Iran has signalled it will press ahead with fast-track trials and executions of detained protesters, defying warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington would take «very strong action» if hangings go ahead.

Iran’s chief justice said authorities must act quickly to maintain the impact of punishments, as human rights groups warned that executions could be imminent. A 26-year-old protester, Erfan Soltani, has been sentenced to death, making him the first known anti-government demonstrator to face execution during the current unrest. It remains unclear whether the sentence has been carried out.

Trump has publicly backed Iranian protesters and...

UK media regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot amid reports it was used to generate deepfake nude images, including content that may involve child sexual abuse material.

The probe comes as former deputy prime minister and ex-Meta executive Sir Nick Clegg warned that social media has become a «poisoned chalice,» arguing that the rise of AI-generated and algorithm-driven content is harming users, particularly young people. Speaking to a cross-party commission, Clegg said platforms are increasingly dominated by passive consumption of automated content rather than human interaction, which research links to poorer...

Oil prices jumped sharply on Tuesday as escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran and fresh reports of attacks on oil tankers rattled energy markets.

Brent crude rose nearly 3% to around $66 a barrel, its highest level since October, after U.S. President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran’s leadership and voiced support for protesters opposing the regime. Trump also warned he would impose 25% tariffs on goods from countries doing business with Iran, adding to concerns over potential supply disruptions.

Market nerves were further unsettled by reports of unidentified drone strikes on three oil tankers in the Black Sea...

France has announced it will open a consulate in Greenland next month, in a move described as a political signal of support for Danish sovereignty amid renewed US pressure on the Arctic territory.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the decision was taken last summer during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Greenland and the consulate is set to open on 6 February. He said the move would strengthen France’s presence on the island at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.

The announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has again suggested that Washington should take control of Greenland...

Wall Street executives and financial leaders have warned President Donald Trump that his recent moves targeting the Federal Reserve and the credit card industry could destabilise the US economy and global markets.

Banking leaders have pushed back against Trump’s proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%, arguing it would restrict access to credit for higher-risk borrowers and disrupt the lending market. While supporters say the cap could save consumers billions, industry groups warn it may reduce credit availability and push borrowers toward more expensive alternatives.

Concerns have also intensified over Trump’s attacks on the Federal Reserve...

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry voiced serious concern over drone attacks on January 13, 2026, targeting three tankers headed to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in the Black Sea.

Spokesperson Yerlan Zhetybayev said officials held urgent talks with European and US diplomats and other partners to stress the need for effective measures to protect hydrocarbon transport along maritime routes.

He added that Kazakhstan is not involved in any armed conflict and plays a key role in global and European energy security, ensuring uninterrupted energy supplies in line with international standards. The affected tankers had all necessary permits and identification systems.

Zoe Saldana became the highest-grossing actor in history after the success of «Avatar: Fire and Ash.» She starred in the three top-grossing films ever: «Avatar» (2009), «Avengers: Endgame» (2019) and «The Way of Water» (2022). She is also the first actress in four films that earned over $2 bn worldwide, including «Avengers: Infinity War.»

«Avatar: Fire and Ash» has earned $1.23 bn, pushing her total box office to $15.47 bn.

On social media, Saldana said, «An achievement made possible entirely by the incredible franchises and the collaborators that I have been fortunate enough to be...

Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft to 91 customers in 2025, marking a 4% increase from the previous year despite a complex operating environment.

The European manufacturer recorded 1,000 gross orders across its product portfolio, resulting in 889 net orders after cancellations. This activity pushed the company’s total order backlog to a record 8,754 aircraft by the end of December 2025.

Demand for widebody jets contributed to the surge, with the widebody backlog reaching a historic high of 1,124 aircraft. The year’s orders included 49 A220s, 656 A320s, 100 A330neos, two A330 MRTTs and 193 A350s.

Deliveries maintained an upward trajectory...

Kazakhstan has launched an investigation into a serious aviation incident involving aircraft operated by Russia’s Pobeda airline and Uzbekistan Airways, according to Sputnik.

The near miss occurred in the early hours of January 10 in Kazakh airspace, when a Pobeda jet flying from Moscow to Samarkand and a Uzbekistan Airways aircraft en route from Termez to Moscow came dangerously close to each other.

An onboard collision avoidance system was triggered, prompting both flight crews to carry out evasive manoeuvres to avert a possible accident, the ministry said.

The incident has been officially classified as serious, and a special commission...

Russia’s Gazprom reports a sharp rise in gas exports to Central Asia in 2025, increasing supplies to Uzbekistan by 22.2% over the year.

The company recorded similar growth in deliveries to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, while exports to Georgia jumped by 40.4%.

Moscow plans to expand gas shipments to Uzbekistan from 5.6 bn to 12 bn cubic metres over the next four years, underscoring the region’s growing importance in Russia’s export strategy.

Analysts link Russia’s renewed focus on Central Asia to efforts to offset losses following European sanctions. However, further growth will depend on resolving technical and pricing challenges...

In 2025, airlines in Uzbekistan introduced 33 new routes and carried 15.6 mln passengers, the Ministry of Transport reports.

The country now hosts 17 domestic and 51 foreign carriers, operating a combined fleet of 109 aircraft. Contracts have also been signed to purchase 22 additional Boeing 787 jets.

Last year saw a complete renovation of Andijan Airport and the Sariasiya airfield, while Tashkent opened the new “Tashkent – Humo” aviation complex. Construction has also begun on a new international airport in the region.

Looking ahead, Uzbekistan’s aviation sector aims to operate 140,000 flights in 2026 and transport 17 mln...

Drones struck two oil tankers in the Black Sea on Tuesday, one of which was chartered by U.S. oil major Chevron, the companies involved confirmed. Both vessels were heading to the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal, a key hub handling around 80% of Kazakh oil exports and some Russian crude.

“All crew are safe, and the vessel remains stable. It is proceeding to a safe port, and we are coordinating with the ship operator and relevant authorities,” Chevron said regarding its tanker.

The strikes follow disruptions to Kazakh oil output earlier in January, when winter storms...

In 2025, international freight and transit through Uzbekistan exceeded 2.8 mln tonnes, the Ministry of Transport reports.

Volumes along the Central Corridor doubled from 500,000 tonnes in 2020 to over 1 mln tonnes in 2025. The fastest-growing route was China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan, where shipments jumped from 33,700 tonnes to 1.8 mln tonnes over the same period.

Uzbekistan is actively advancing the Trans-Afghan railway project, with a technical and economic feasibility study already under way. In the road transport sector, the country has introduced an e-Permit electronic system in partnership with Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan to streamline cross-border operations.

Additionally, 24 transport and...

China recorded an unprecedented full-year trade surplus of $1.189 trln in 2025 as exports and imports both outperformed expectations, highlighting Beijing’s growing reliance on overseas demand to offset weak domestic conditions.

Customs data released on Wednesday showed the surplus surpassed the trillion-dollar mark for the first time, a level comparable with the annual output of a major global economy such as Saudi Arabia. The result comes as policymakers lean on exports to counter a prolonged property downturn and sluggish consumer demand.

«The momentum for global trade growth looks insufficient and the external environment remains severe...

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Iranians to sustain nationwide protests and to remember those responsible for abuses, saying help was coming as Iran intensified its crackdown on the biggest demonstrations in years.

“Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!… HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He later told Iranians to «save the name of the killers and the abusers… because they’ll pay a very big price.»

Iran accused Trump of inciting violence and destabilisation. For the first time, an Iranian official acknowledged an overall death...

South Korea’s special prosecutor requested the death penalty for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of orchestrating an insurrection through a brief declaration of martial law in December 2024.

In closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court late on Tuesday, prosecutors said investigators had confirmed a plan allegedly led by Yoon and his former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, dating back to October 2023, aimed at preserving Yoon’s grip on power.

A prosecutor rejected Yoon’s justification for the move, telling the court: «Yoon claims to have committed emergency martial law to protect liberal...

Roblox’s newly introduced age-verification system is facing criticism just days after becoming mandatory, amid reports that it is misclassifying users and can be easily fooled.

The platform last week required all users to verify their age to access chat features, using either a selfie-based facial age estimate or, for those aged 13 and over, a government ID upload. The move followed mounting allegations that Roblox has been used by child predators, prompting lawsuits in several US states.

However, according to reports, the system has struggled to work as intended. Adults have been incorrectly classified as teenagers, while videos...

Greenland’s prime minister has said the autonomous territory would choose to remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark rather than become part of the United States, amid renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Greenland was facing a «geopolitical crisis» but made clear that its preference was to stay aligned with Denmark. He stressed that Greenland does not want to be owned, governed or incorporated by the United States.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. needs Greenland for «national security» and escalated tensions...

South Korean prosecutors have requested the capital punishment for former president Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of leading an insurrection over his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

The demand was made during final arguments at the Seoul Central District Court, where Yoon is on trial for charges that carry a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk described the ousted leader as the «ringleader of an insurrection» who sought to retain power by unlawfully seizing control of state institutions.

Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April...

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen returned to court in Paris on Tuesday as judges began hearing her appeal against a conviction that could determine whether she is eligible to run in the 2027 presidential election.

Le Pen is challenging a March 2025 ruling that found her guilty of misusing European Parliament funds, for which she was handed a five-year ban from holding public office, a four-year prison sentence, two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. The ban took immediate effect, putting her future political ambitions at risk.

The appeal hearing is scheduled to run until mid-February, with...

Israel has announced it is cutting ties with several United Nations agencies and international organisations, citing their criticism of Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had instructed officials to review and, where necessary, halt cooperation with international bodies that Israel accuses of bias. Among those affected is the UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, which placed the Israeli military on a blacklist in 2024. Israel also said it was severing relations with UN Women, UNCTAD, the UN Economic and...

Bitcoin moved toward a potential breakout above $92,000 on Tuesday as U.S. stocks hit fresh record highs following cooler-than-expected inflation data.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency rose about 1.5% in early Wall Street trading after December U.S. Consumer Price Index data showed inflation easing. Headline CPI matched expectations at 2.7%, while core inflation came in slightly lower at 2.6%, boosting risk sentiment across markets.

U.S. equities rallied on the data, with the S&P 500 reaching new all-time highs. The move came despite ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with Trump renewing calls for...

Global central bank leaders have voiced strong support for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, warning that political pressure on the Fed could threaten global financial stability.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, governors from 11 major central banks said they stand «in full solidarity» with Powell and stressed the importance of central bank independence. The statement follows the launch of a criminal investigation in the US into a $2.5 bn renovation of the Fed’s headquarters, a move that has heightened tensions between the Federal Reserve and the Trump administration.

Among the signatories were European Central Bank...