News

Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned that the recent US military operation in Venezuela could have serious long-term consequences for the international order, adding to growing criticism from Asian nations.

Speaking at a regional outlook forum in Singapore on Thursday, Mr Lee said that internal political crises could not justify «unilateral military intervention» without proper authorisation. While the operation may have appeared to be a «spectacular military success,» he cautioned that it set a worrying precedent for smaller countries.

«From the point of view of a small country, if that’s the...

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may be preparing to flee the country as nationwide protests demanding regime change continue to escalate.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump said Khamenei was «looking to go someplace» amid reports he could seek refuge in Russia, adding that Iran appeared to be on the «verge of collapsing.» His comments came as millions of Iranians took to the streets following calls for mass demonstrations by Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah.

Protesters have reportedly chanted slogans including «death to Khamenei,» while clashes with security forces...

The car in which Michael Schumacher secured his first Formula 1 victory, the 1992 Benetton B192, has been listed for auction via Broad Arrow Auctions. An estimated price is €8.5 mln, Motorsport reports.

Schumacher began the 1992 season driving an updated B191, but Benetton introduced the B192 at the fourth round in Spain. Paired with Martin Brundle, Schumacher claimed his maiden grand prix win at the Belgian Grand Prix in chassis number 05.

Designed by Rory Byrne under Ross Brawn, the B192 proved highly competitive, delivering 11 podium finishes, one win, and two fastest laps between Schumacher and...

Beverage production in Uzbekistan totalled 26.9 trln soums ($2.22 bn) from January to November 2025. This marks a 4% increase compared with the previous year, the State Statistics Committee reports.

The largest volumes came from the capital, Tashkent, which produced 16.6 trln soums ($1.37 bn), followed by Tashkent region with 4.5 trln ($371.8 mln) and Khorezm region at 2.2 trln soums ($181.8 mln).

The lowest production levels were recorded in Navoi region at just 25.7 bn soums ($2.12 mln), Jizzakh at 51.3 bn ($4.24 mln) and Syrdarya at 85.1 bn soums ($7.03 mln).

More than 438,300 citizens of Uzbekistan activated a self-imposed ban on taking out loans in 2025, according to data from the Credit Information and Analytical Centre.

The figure marks a sharp rise from 284,700 users recorded as of December 1 last year, reflecting growing public interest in the service.

People aged 26 to 35 accounted for the largest share of users as of January 1, with more than 144,600 individuals opting in. This was followed by those aged 35 to 45 at 106,600 users and people under 26 at 94,700. Uptake was lowest among citizens aged over 56, with...

South Korea’s special prosecutor is expected to seek the death penalty or life imprisonment for former president Yoon Suk Yeol on insurrection charges. Lower court convened its final hearing on Friday over his brief imposition of martial law in 2024.

Yoon, 65, is accused of orchestrating an insurrection by attempting to suspend parliament and seize legislative powers. Under South Korean law, the charges carry a maximum penalty of death or life in prison, although the country has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997.

Prosecutors allege plot to suspend parliament

According to prosecutors, Yoon aimed to label...

Most residents of Greenland have expressed opposition to joining the United States, with 85% saying they do not want to become American citizens, according to a Financial Times report citing a Verian survey.

Respondents cited Denmark’s higher standard of living as the main reason for rejecting U.S. citizenship. Other concerns included high crime rates in the United States and expensive healthcare. Only a small fraction of participants expressed support for a potential change in nationality.

The report also considered a hypothetical scenario in which the U.S. might try to win over Greenland’s 57,000 residents by offering American passports and...

Uzbek authorities have begun a review of several cryptocurrencies listed on the UzNex exchange, including tokens A, KWAV, KBH, KHAI, AMF, and the Trump-themed meme coin TRUMP, according to a notice on the platform.

Kursiv Uzbekistan sent inquiries to the National Agency of Prospective Projects and UzNex to determine the reasons for the review and its expected duration.

The Trump-linked tokens were created in 2025 with support from the former US president’s election team. The meme coins OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) and OFFICIAL MELANIA (MELANIA) were launched and promoted actively via the personal social media accounts of Donald and Melania...

Chinese sportswear company Anta Sports Products has made an offer to purchase 29% of Puma from France’s Pinault family, Reuters reports.

The bid was made a few weeks ago, and Anta has secured financing for the deal if it proceeds, two sources added. However, one source said negotiations have stalled.

Artemis, the investment vehicle of Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman of Kering, which owns Gucci, acquired the Puma stake in 2018 when Kering shifted to focus exclusively on luxury. Artemis and Puma declined to comment, and Anta did not respond immediately.

Puma shares jumped as much as 9% following the news...

Six whales have died on a remote beach in New Zealand’s South Island following a mass stranding, while volunteers work urgently to save 15 others that remain alive.

About 55 pilot whales washed up on Farewell Spit on Thursday. Most were able to return to the sea, but 15 have restranded and are scattered along roughly 1 km of the beach.

Project Jonah, a marine mammal rescue charity, shared video showing volunteers pouring buckets of water over the whales to keep them cool.

«When the tide comes in, we have to act quickly to gather...

Rio Tinto has entered early-stage discussions on a possible acquisition of Glencore. This move could create the world’s largest mining group with a combined market value of nearly $207 bn.

The talks come as major miners seek to expand exposure to metals such as copper, which is expected to see strong demand from the energy transition and the growth of artificial intelligence. Industry consolidation has accelerated, with large players pursuing expansions and takeovers to secure future supply.

Deal Likely to Be All-Share

Rio Tinto and Glencore said a potential transaction would likely take the form of an all-share...

Uzbekistan’s gold and foreign exchange reserves surpassed $66.3 bn at the start of 2026, up from $61.2 bn recorded in December last year, official data shows.

Of the total, foreign currency assets accounted for $10.6 bn, securities for $1.5 bn and gold for $55.1 bn. Gold holdings increased over the month from 12.2 mln to 12.6 mln troy ounces.

In November 2025, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan ranked among the world’s top three gold-buying regulators, purchasing 10 tonnes during the month.

Between January and November last year, Uzbekistan exported nearly $10 bn worth of precious metals. Exports rose by...

Large crowds of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Tehran and other Iranian cities in what observers describe as the strongest show of opposition to the clerical leadership in years, according to verified videos circulating online.

Footage showed peaceful marches on December 8 evening in the capital and in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. Security forces did not immediately disperse the gatherings. Later, monitoring groups reported a nationwide shutdown of internet services.

Calls for Political Change

Chants captured in the videos included demands for the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and slogans supporting Reza...

Abdukodir Khusanov, a defender for the Uzbekistan national football team and Manchester City, has been named Asia’s Best Young Footballer of 2025, capping a breakthrough year for the 21-year-old.

Khusanov became the first Uzbek player to debut in the English Premier League after joining Manchester City in January and has since made nine appearances for the reigning English champions. His rise has also been marked by international success, playing a key role as Uzbekistan secured historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup.

The award places Khusanov ahead of leading young talents from across Asia, while his growing reputation...

A nationwide series of regional anti-corruption trainings supported by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has concluded in Uzbekistan, strengthening local capacity to prevent and combat corruption.

The programme covered all 14 regions of the country, including the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and involved 501 representatives responsible for implementing anti-corruption policy at the regional level. The trainings focused on enhancing the role of territorial anti-corruption councils as coordination platforms and developing region-specific recommendations and action plans.

Participants examined international and national anti-corruption standards, including the UN Convention against Corruption and ISO 37001 anti-bribery systems, alongside...

Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev will face Kazakhstan’s Batyrzhan Jukembayev in a junior welterweight clash on May 9 in Tashkent.

The all-Central Asian bout will take place at the Humo Arena, with the fight confirmed by All Stars Entertainment. Both fighters are 34-year-old southpaws known for their power and strong amateur backgrounds.

Ergashev (25–2, 22 KOs) is looking to regain momentum after mixed results since his IBF title loss to Subriel Matias in 2023. Jukembayev (24–1, 17 KOs), meanwhile, enters the contest on a six-fight winning streak following his own stoppage defeat to Matias in 2021.

With both men seeking...

Pop star Katy Perry has shown she remains on good terms with her former partner Orlando Bloom, after tagging him in a festive Instagram photo dump that also featured her new boyfriend, Justin Trudeau.

In the post, captioned «Holidaze», Perry gave fans a glimpse into her holiday celebrations, including cosy moments with Trudeau — such as a snap of her kissing him on the cheek — as well as family time spent with Bloom and their five-year-old daughter, Daisy.

Perry shared images from a Christmas dinner attended by herself, Bloom, Daisy and Bloom’s son Flynn, alongside a photo...

Despite growing fears of an artificial intelligence bubble, companies at Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in Las Vegas are pressing ahead, showcasing AI applications focused firmly on real-world use rather than chatbots and image generators.

Tech giants including Samsung, LG and Bosch demonstrated AI systems designed for everyday tasks, from washing machines that automatically select programmes to humanoid robots that fold laundry and smart hobs that cook food with precision.

Mobility was also in focus, with Nvidia chief Jensen Huang outlining plans to use AI to help power future robotaxi fleets. Industrial applications featured heavily, as Siemens showcased virtual...

Actor Sadie Sink has revealed that online fan speculation accurately predicted her casting in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day — even before Marvel Studios officially approached her.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sink said she first learned of the rumours online, calling it «torture» to keep her role secret. She explained that fans had begun claiming she would appear in the next Spider-Man film days before she was offered the part.

Sink’s role remains undisclosed, though speculation has centred on her playing Jean Grey from the X-Men franchise. The actor previously said the rumours...

Protests sweeping across Iran have raised fresh questions over the stability of the Islamic Republic, with an insider source warning the ruling establishment could face collapse «within weeks» if security forces fracture.

Demonstrations have erupted nationwide amid soaring inflation, fuel price hikes and the sharp fall of Iran’s rial, now trading at more than 1.4 million to the US dollar. Economic pressure has mounted since the United Nations reimposed sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, while the country is still absorbing the cost of a brief war with Israel earlier this year.

At least 38 people have been killed...

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro appeared in a New York courtroom this week after being indicted by US prosecutors on charges of large-scale drug trafficking, allegations he strongly denies.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Maduro abused his public offices for more than two decades to facilitate the transport of thousands of tonnes of cocaine to the United States and Europe. Prosecutors allege he led the so-called «Cartel of the Suns», a network involving senior military and government officials.

The indictment links Maduro to a series of major cocaine shipments, including a 2013 seizure of 1.3 tonnes...

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have reported a major advance in nuclear fusion research, after their experimental reactor achieved plasma density levels once thought impossible.

The breakthrough was made on CAS’s so-called «artificial Sun», the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), where researchers successfully stabilised ultra-dense plasma beyond the long-standing Greenwald Limit, a theoretical barrier that has constrained fusion performance for decades.

Using a new method known as plasma-wall self-organisation, the team was able to prevent the plasma from becoming unstable even at unprecedented density levels. According to the researchers, this opens the door to significantly...

Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in a deal worth more than his £60mln release clause.

The 26-year-old made his farewell appearance for AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham Hotspur at the Vitality Stadium. Semenyo is now expected in Manchester to undergo a medical ahead of his move to the Etihad Stadium.

While Semenyo’s contract includes a £60mln buyout clause plus £5mln in bonuses, City’s overall package will total £62.5mln spread over two years. The agreement includes £1.5mln in add-ons and a 10 per cent sell-on clause...

Netflix has revealed a list of television series set to premiere in 2026, signalling a strategy focused on extending proven franchises while introducing large-scale adaptations of classic works.

The platform will open the year with two instalments of the fourth season of Bridgerton, scheduled for release in late January and February. The new season will centre on the romance of Benedict Bridgerton.

In March, the live-action adventure series One Piece will return with its second season, titled Into the Grand Line. The new chapters will follow Luffy and his crew as they encounter fresh islands and new adversaries, with...