News

Amazon blocked more than 1,800 individuals linked to North Korea from applying for jobs, citing efforts by Pyongyang to place IT workers in overseas firms to generate and launder funds.

In a LinkedIn post, Amazon’s Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt said North Korean operatives were attempting to secure remote IT roles with companies worldwide, particularly in the United States. He noted that applications from suspected North Korean workers had risen by nearly one-third over the past year.

According to Schmidt, many of the applicants used so-called «laptop farms», in which computers physically located in the US are operated...

Major cryptocurrencies traded lower over the past 24 hours, led by declines in Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, as traders reduced exposure to large-cap digital assets amid cautious market sentiment.

Bitcoin fell 1.9% to about $87,450, though trading activity remained robust with volumes topping $42 bn, suggesting continued market participation despite the pullback. Ethereum dropped more sharply, sliding 2.3% to around $2,962, with daily turnover exceeding $21 bn.

Other leading tokens also moved into negative territory. BNB eased 1.2% to $849, while XRP declined 2.1% to $1.88 on softer buying interest. Solana slipped 1.5% to $124, Dogecoin fell...

Bangladesh summoned India’s High Commissioner to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, over concerns about the security of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India, as protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi turned violent.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam called in the envoy on Tuesday, condemning what Dhaka described as acts of intimidation and vandalism targeting its diplomatic facilities. The Foreign Ministry urged India to strengthen security at Bangladeshi missions in cities including New Delhi and Kolkata, investigate recent incidents and prevent their recurrence.

The move follows vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 and...

Finland announced plans to raise the maximum age for military reservists from 60 to 65 starting next year, a move aimed at strengthening national defence in response to security concerns linked to neighbouring Russia.

Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said the reform will come into force on January 1 after being signed into law by the president. The change is expected to add around 125,000 conscripts over the next five years, increasing the total number of reservists to about one million by 2031.

Finland currently has roughly 900,000 reservists and a wartime military strength of 280,000 troops. Hakkanen said...

The UK government is under growing pressure after declining to hold a ministerial meeting over six prisoners linked to the banned Palestine Action who are on prolonged hunger strike and now face life-threatening health risks.

Supporters say two of the detainees have been hospitalised as their condition worsens, with medical professionals warning of imminent organ failure after weeks without food. The prisoners, charged with offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage, are demanding bail, an end to restrictions on their communications, a fair trial, and the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action. They also call for the...

A first-aid training module used by Securitas in France has sparked controversy after instructing security agents to respect Sharia law when providing emergency assistance.

According to the training material, first aid should, «as far as possible,» be administered by someone of the same gender as the victim, citing Sharia principles. The module formed part of an annual refresher course for security staff stationed at French facilities operated by Amazon.

The issue, first reported by French magazine Valeurs Actuelles, was reportedly identified during a validation process earlier this year. Several supervisors refused to approve the module, raising concerns that...

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the opening of several new hotels in the country’s northeastern tourist zone alongside his daughter Kim Ju-ae, as he sought to showcase economic development ahead of a key ruling party congress.

According to state media Korean Central News Agency, five hotels were inaugurated over the weekend in Samjiyon City, near the border with China. Kim toured the facilities with his daughter during the ceremonies, with photographs released by the agency showing the pair inspecting the upscale interiors.

Kim was quoted as saying the new hotels were «clear proof of the rising status...

Cambodia and Thailand agreed to hold talks on December 24 aimed at reviving a ceasefire brokered earlier this year, as deadly fighting along their shared border entered a third week.

The decision was taken during a special meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Kuala Lumpur, where regional diplomats sought to de-escalate the conflict. The planned meeting will involve defence officials from both sides under the long-standing General Border Committee mechanism.

Clashes along the 817-kilometre border between Thailand and Cambodia have included daily exchanges of artillery, rockets and air strikes, with at...

Nigerian Afrobeats singer Asake has expressed grief after 20-year-old Kenyan fan Karen Lojore died in a crowd crush at his concert in Nairobi.

The incident occurred near a gate at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, amid long queues and heavy rain, injuring several other fans. Friends and family have called for a full investigation.

In an Instagram statement, Asake said he was “devastated” and pledged to support efforts to understand the incident.

“My heart goes out to the family, friends and loved ones of Karen Lojore,” he added.

Organisers Tukutane Entertainment are cooperating with...

Uzbekistan Airports was assigned an ESG Entity Rating of ‘3’ with a score of 48 by international agency Sustainable Fitch.

In the environmental category, Sustainable Fitch highlighted Uzbekistan Airports’ strategy to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2050. The report also noted measures to reduce carbon intensity and expand the use of renewable energy.

Socially, the company received positive marks for occupational safety, staff stability and stakeholder engagement. In governance, the agency recognised the work of board committees, internal audit systems and transparency mechanisms.

Uzbekistan Airports plans to achieve Level 1 of the...

Most high-liquidity stocks on the Tashkent Republican Stock Exchange (RSE) showed positive performance between December 12 and 19, even as the UCI index fell 1.04%.

During the period, UzEx shares led gains, rising 21.37%. Quartz increased 16.40% and Qashqadaryo Technological Transport rose 15.72%.

In contrast, O‘zmetkombinat shares fell 6.64%, recording the largest weekly decline. Shares of Almalyk MMC dropped 4.48% and Uzbekneftgaz fell 3.40%. Shares of Ipoteka-bank, Aloqabank and Trastbank remained unchanged.

Overall, of the high-liquidity stocks, 17 ended the week higher, three were unchanged and nine declined.

Kursiv also reports that most high-liquidity shares on the Tashkent Republican Stock...

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover reached $72.8 bn in the first 11 months of 2025. This represents a 21.8% increase, or $13 bn, compared with the same period last year, the National Statistics Committee reports.

Exports during January–November totalled $30.9 bn, a 26.2% increase year-on-year, while imports rose 18.7% to $41.9 bn. This left a trade deficit of $11 bn. China remained Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner, accounting for 20.1% of total trade, followed by Russia at 16.2% and Kazakhstan at 6%. Turkey and South Korea accounted for 3.7% and 2.2% respectively. Overall, Uzbekistan trades with 210 countries worldwide.

Goods made...

Uzbekistan exported gold worth $9.9 bn during the first 11 months of 2025, a 49.4% increase compared with the same period last year, the National Statistics Committee reports.

By early December, the country’s total trade turnover had exceeded $72.8 bn, up 21.8% year-on-year. China, Russia and Kazakhstan were Uzbekistan’s main trading partners, accounting for 42.3% of total foreign trade.

Gold prices reached a historic high on December 22, climbing above $4,400 per ounce for the first time. Reuters attributed the rise to geopolitical and trade tensions. A weaker dollar further supported prices, making gold more attractive for international investors.

The FIA has not dismissed reports that Mercedes and Red Bull may have identified a technical workaround in Formula 1’s 2026 power unit regulations, instead signalling that it is closely watching developments, according to Italian media.

The focus of the speculation is the compression ratio, a key parameter in internal combustion engines that measures how much the air-fuel mixture is compressed inside a cylinder.

Under the 2026 rules, the FIA lowered the maximum compression ratio from 18 to 16 to rein in combustion engine performance as the electric component’s output is set to triple. However, inspections are...

The FIA moved quickly to shut down another potential area of exploitation in Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 power unit regulations, underlining the close scrutiny teams face as the new technical rules take shape.

As debate continues over compression ratio issues involving Mercedes and Red Bull, newly updated regulations show that teams had been examining grey areas related to the manipulation of fuel-flow meters.

The governing body has tightened controls on the temperature management of the mandatory Allengra fuel-flow meters that will be used on all cars. Previously, the rules banned only the «intentional» heating or cooling of...

Hotel group Accor has cancelled complimentary breakfasts for top-tier members of its Accor Live Limitless (ALL) loyalty programme in Central Asia and the Caucasus, according to updated programme rules highlighted by the Telegram channel Portier de Nuit.

Under the revised ALL terms, guests with Platinum and Diamond status will no longer receive free breakfast benefits in several Asia-Pacific markets. The changes apply to Georgia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

In Uzbekistan, Accor operates Swissotel Tashkent, Mercure Tashkent South, Movenpick Samarkand and Mercure Bukhara Old Town.

In Kazakhstan, the group runs hotels including Rixos President Astana, Swissotel Wellness...

Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise «Call of Duty,» died after a single-car accident near Los Angeles. He was 55.

The crash involved a Ferrari on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California on Sunday afternoon. The vehicle struck a concrete barrier while travelling south in the San Gabriel Mountains and caught fire. Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene, while a passenger who was ejected from the car later died in hospital.

«This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones and all those touched...

Oil prices edged higher on Monday after reports that the United States intercepted an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, adding to concerns over potential supply disruptions.

Brent crude futures rose 57 cents, or 0.9%, to $61.04 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 55 cents, or 1%, to $57.07. Analysts said the move reflected growing market unease over Washington’s tougher stance on Venezuelan oil exports.

«The market is waking up to the fact that the Trump administration is taking a hardline approach to the Venezuelan oil trade,» said...

James Ransone, the actor best known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka in HBO’s acclaimed series «The Wire,» has died at the age of 46.

Ransone died by suicide in Los Angeles on Friday. He was a married father of two, and his wife Jamie McPhee shared a fundraiser for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on social media in his memory.

Records list the cause of death as hanging and the location as a shed. The body is ready for release, the LA County Medical Examiner stated. Ransone played the troubled son of Baltimore dock worker Frank...

A senior Russian military officer has been killed in a targeted car explosion in Moscow, authorities confirmed on Monday.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said Fanil Sarvarov, a lieutenant general in the Russian Armed Forces, died from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated under his vehicle. The blast occurred in the courtyard of a residential building on Yaseneva Street in southern Moscow as he was getting into his car.

Early reports described the incident as an assassination attempt, saying the 56-year-old officer was critically injured and rushed to hospital. Investigators later confirmed that Sarvarov succumbed to his wounds...

Uzbekistan’s enterprises produced 38.9 bn cubic metres of gas in the first 11 months of 2025. This is a 5.1% decline compared with the previous year, the National Statistics Committee reports.

Oil production also fell over the same period, dropping from 657,600 tonnes to 601,200 tonnes. Petrol output declined sharply, from 1.9 mln tonnes to 1 mln tonnes by early December.

In mid-December, Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamahmudov told deputies in the Legislative Chamber that measures would be taken next year to stabilise gas production.

He noted that, on the president’s instructions, additional resources had been sent to prospective regions...

Malaysia has called on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to do «whatever is necessary» to ease the escalating conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, as Asean foreign ministers gathered in Kuala Lumpur for emergency talks.

Speaking at the special meeting on Monday, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the renewed fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border had become a regional and global concern, stressing that Asean has a responsibility to help find a solution.

«Asean must do whatever is necessary to maintain regional peace and stability,» Mohamad said, calling for stronger trust-building measures and dialogue...

Japan is preparing to restart operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, marking a major step in the country’s gradual return to nuclear energy more than a decade after the Fukushima disaster.

The move received approval on Monday after Niigata prefecture’s assembly passed a vote of confidence in Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who supports the partial restart. The decision clears the way for Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) to resume operations at the plant, which has been shut since 2011.

Japan closed all 54 of its reactors following the Fukushima triple meltdown triggered by an earthquake...

James Cameron’s latest sci-fi epic, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has debuted to a softer-than-expected opening weekend at the box office, despite leading the holiday competition in U.S. theaters.

The third installment in the Avatar franchise earned $88 mln domestically, falling short of its projected $100 mln debut and well below the $134 mln opening of Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022. Still, the film dominated rival releases and has already generated a strong $345 mln globally, fuelling expectations that it could follow the franchise’s traditional slow-burn success pattern.

Previous Avatar films opened more modestly before achieving record-breaking...