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North Korean hackers made off with nearly $41 million worth of cryptocurrencies from an online casino and sports betting site this week money officials worry will be used to bolster the countrys nuclear weapons program ahead of an expected arms deal with Russia.

The FBI announced on Wednesday it had traced the hack of Stake.com back to North Korea and its state-sponsored Lazarus Group, which has stolen more than $200 million in cryptocurrencies over the past year alone.

In 2022, blockchain analytics company Chainalysis found it had stolen a whopping $3.8 billion from crypto business.

In recent years, there has been a marked size and scale of cyber attacks against cryptocurrency-related businesses by North Korea, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs reported in June. 

This has coincided with an apparent acceleration in the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile program.

Even more concerning for US officials is the fact that this latest exploit came just days before North Korea leader Kim Jung-Uns expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, when the two world leaders are expected to iron out an arms deal to help Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. North Korean Leader Kim Jung-Un is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days about an arms deal.AP Ahead of the expected meeting, North Korean hackers stole nearly $41 million worth of cryptocurrencies from Stake.com.Getty Images

The White House has previously warned that North Korea was shipping artillery shells and rockets to Russia, and were set to negotiate for more arms deals.

Then just last month, North Korean state media reported that Kim and Putin were exchanging letters in which they pleaded to expand bilateral cooperation in all fields and build a longstanding strategic relationship in conformity with the demand of the new era.

It is unclear what exactly Kim may offer Putin as the war in Ukraine continues, but analysts say the recent cryptocurrency hacks have given the communist country some funds it could use to build up its weapons cache.

In the most recent hack, Lazarus Group stole $16 million in Ether, as well as stable coins like USDT, USDC and DAI.

That was followed by another $25 million withdrawals of MATIC and BNB tokens.

Stake.com co-founder Edward Craven told DL News it was a sophisticated breach that exploited a service the casino uses to authorize crypto transactions.

The company halted deposits and withdrawals following the breach, but reinstated both functions shortly thereafter, and is continuing to operate. Stake.com co-founder Edward Craven told DL News it was a sophisticated breach that exploited a service the casino uses to authorize crypto transactions.Stake.com Lazarus Group stole $16 million in Ether, as well as stable coins like USDT, USDC and DAI. That was followed by another $25 million withdrawals of MATIC and BNB tokens.X / @PeckShieldAlert

The FBI is now advising the public to be vigilant in guarding against transactions directly with, or derived from, those addresses.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is warning North Korea that it will pay a price if it moves forward with a deal to provide arms to Russia.

White House National Security Advisor made the remarks at a press briefing on Tuesday, when asked about reports that Kim and Putin would meet in person.

[This] is not going to reflect well on North Korea, and they will pay a price for this in the international community, he said.

We will continue to call on North Korea to abide by its public commitments not to supply weapons to Russia that will end up killing Ukrainians.

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Chancellor insists Labour rebels ‘know the welfare system needs reform’ as they push for change

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Chancellor insists Labour rebels 'know the welfare system needs reform' as they push for change

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has insisted that rebelling Labour MPs “know the welfare system needs reform” as the government faces a growing backlash over planned cuts.

Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure from Labour MPs, with about 40 in the Red Wall – the party’s traditional heartlands in the north of England – warning the prime minister’s welfare plan is “impossible to support” in its current form.

Dozens have thrown their support behind a letter urging the government to “delay” the proposals, which they blasted as “the biggest attack on the welfare state” since Tory austerity.

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Ms Reeves on Friday reiterated her plans for reform, insisting that no-one, including Labour MPs and party members, “thinks that the current welfare system created by the Conservative Party is working today”.

She said: “They know that the system needs reform. We do need to reform how the welfare system works if we’re going to grow our economy.”

But, the chancellor added, if the government is going to lift people out of poverty “the focus has got to be on supporting people into work”.

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“Of course if you can’t work, the welfare state must always be there for you, and with this government it will be,” she said.

The reforms, announced ahead of Ms Reeves’s spring statement in March, include cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), one of the main types of disability benefit, and a hike in the universal credit standard allowance.

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UK and US trade deal will save thousands of UK jobs – PM
Starmer faces rebellion from Labour MPs over welfare reforms

The government has claimed that changes to welfare will cut the budget by £4.8bn overall.

Separately, Downing Street refused on Friday to deny that Ms Reeves has consulted on potentially overhauling their winter fuel payment policy.

Labour’s unpopular decision to means-test the policy has taken the benefit away from millions of pensioners.

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Ministers have faced pressure from their own backbenchers to rethink the policy in the wake of last week’s local election results, which saw Labour lose the Runcorn by-election and control of Doncaster Council to Reform UK.

Asked if the chancellor has discussed the winter fuel payment in private, the prime minister’s spokesperson said they would not give a running commentary.

Pushed again, Number 10 said a “range” of discussions take place in government – which is not a denial.

However, it is worth noting that when reports emerged earlier this week that Downing Street was reviewing the policy, the government strongly pushed back on that suggestion.

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Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say

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Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say

Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.

The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.

Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.

An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.

It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.

Map of where explosions were reported in Kashmir and from where

On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.

The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.

The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.

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Explained: India-Pakistan conflict

Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.

India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.

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Russia’s Victory Day parade felt more like a celebration of war than peace

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Russia's Victory Day parade felt more like a celebration of war than peace

Standing on Red Square, this was an intimidating sight, which felt much more like a celebration of war rather than peace.

I could feel the ground shake as the tanks rolled past, their caterpillar tracks on the ancient cobbles providing a deafening clatter.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up in fear as the phalanxes of troops roared “Hurrah” in response to their commander in chief.

And the sight of combat drones being paraded on their launchers was actually quite sickening. Weapons that have been at the forefront of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were paraded in a show of pomp and patriotism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping
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Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin watch the procession. Pic: Reuters

Ukraine war latest: Putin welcomes Xi at Victory Day parade

For the rest of Europe, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War has been a celebration of peace, but this felt much more like a celebration of war.

And it wasn’t just military hardware on display here, but the very identity of modern Russia.

A general view shows Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025. Vladimir Astapkovich/Host agency RIA Novosti/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
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Pic: Reuters

For this is a country that is now defined by its military and its memory. The glory and sacrifice of 1945 have been weaponised to give credence to Russia’s current course and to make people believe that victory is their right.

For Russians, it served as a rallying cry and there was applause when the troops who have fought against Ukraine marched past.

But for those watching in Kyiv and other European capitals, it was an overt warning that Moscow has no intention of backing down.

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Putin hails sacrifice of Russian troops

The parade was considerably larger in scale than in recent years, when units and hardware have been needed on the battlefield. I think it was a deliberate attempt to project an image of confidence, and so was Vladimir Putin‘s positioning of his guests.

China’s Xi Jinping was given a prime position on the Kremlin leader’s right-hand side. It was no surprise given the economic lifeline Beijing has provided, but it felt like a particularly pointed gesture to the West – that they were looking at a new world order.

Despite that appearance of confidence, there were signs of Moscow’s unease that the parade could be disrupted.

There were snipers on every rooftop. Security was extremely tight. And the mobile internet signal across the city centre was completely shut down for fear of Ukrainian drone attacks, meaning none of the international media that had gathered could broadcast any live transmissions.

After the parade finished, Putin saluted the crowds as they spontaneously erupted into rhythmic shouts of “Rus-si-ya” at the sight of him.

Another PR coup complete without interruption, he will have departed as a very happy man.

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