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A U.S.-based labour rights organisation claimed that workers at a Chinese factory making the popular Labubu dolls faced exploitation.

China Labor Watch (CLW) said its investigation found employees at Shunjia Toys Co Ltd in Guangdong were made to work long overtime hours, sign incomplete or blank contracts, and were denied paid leave.

The toys, known for their «blind box» concept, have gained a global following in recent years.

Pop Mart, the Beijing-based toy retailer behind Labubu, said it is reviewing the allegations. The company said it would «firmly» require suppliers to correct any improper practices and noted it regularly...

Tashkent will establish a logistics hub and an exhibition centre as part of a cooperation agreement with China, the city administration announces.

The memorandum was signed between Tashkent’s industrial zones management directorate and the Shihezi National Economic Zone.

The agreement outlines plans to increase trade between industrial zone residents, organise regular business visits, and attract new investment.

Shihezi National Economic Zone, located in Xinjiang, is a major economic and educational hub focused on agricultural processing, textiles, and the food industry.

Kursiv also reports that in 2025, international freight and transit through Uzbekistan exceeded 2.8 mln tonnes.

Uzbekistan has established a dedicated Airbus helicopter service centre at the Chirchik Aviation Repair Plant, the presidential press service reports.

The facility is the only one of its kind in the CIS and Central Asia to maintain Airbus rotorcraft. Engineers at the centre are trained to service models including the H-125, H-215 and H-130.

During a visit to the plant, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was shown workshops where Su-25 attack jets are being modernised with advanced navigation systems and night-vision equipment.

The Uzbek military currently operates Airbus helicopters, including the AS550 and AS532 models.

Founded in the 1940s, the Chirchik...

Chevron is expected to receive a broader licence from the U.S. government this week that could allow the company to raise oil production and exports from Venezuela, according to Reuters.

The U.S. major is likely to be among several companies granted approval by President Donald Trump’s administration to operate in Venezuela, as producers, traders and refiners seek access to the country’s heavy crude following the U.S. removal of President Nicolas Maduro. Marathon Petroleum is also holding talks with Washington over potential supplies of Venezuelan crude for its refineries, sources said.

Talks expand beyond Chevron

Valero Energy, along with...

Several international flights were forced to turn back after Iran closed its airspace, disrupting routes linking Uzbekistan with the Middle East.

Fly One Asia‘s Flight 7Q7742 from Medina to Tashkent returned to Medina, while Flight 7Q4442 on the Medina to Fergana route was also diverted back to its departure airport.

Jazeera Airways Flight J9650 from Tashkent to Kuwait, which took off at 02:01 local time, returned to Tashkent shortly after departure. SamAir‘s Flight 9S3303 from Samarkand to Jeddah, departing at 02:04, turned back to Samarkand.

Fly Khiva’s Flight 2U7911 from Urgench to Medina, which left at 02:17 local time...

Denmark’s foreign minister said there is a «fundamental disagreement» with the United States over Greenland following talks at the White House, after President Donald Trump renewed calls to bring the island under U.S. control.

Lars Lokke Rasmussen described his meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as frank but constructive. He stressed that Trump’s language about «conquering» Greenland was unacceptable to Denmark. He said Danish officials made clear that such a move was not in the country’s interest.

The hour-long talks involving the U.S., Denmark and Greenland did not produce a breakthrough. However, the...

Uzbekistan has launched a new chemical production project in the Navoiy region, establishing large-scale output of cyanide salts through the joint venture CONTINAZ, the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade said on Tuesday.

The project was implemented in two stages during 2025. The first phase involved investments of $88.2 mln and included the construction of core production facilities and installation of key technological equipment. The second stage focused on expanding and optimizing production using existing infrastructure, with an additional $40 mln invested.

With both stages completed, the plant now has an annual production capacity of 24,000 tons. Authorities...

Canada’s men’s national soccer team will face Uzbekistan in an international friendly in Edmonton on June 1, 2026, as part of its final preparations for the FIFA World Cup 26.

Canada Soccer announced the fixture during the CANMNT January training camp in Los Angeles, confirming that the match will be played at Commonwealth Stadium, the country’s largest open-air venue with a capacity of more than 55,000.

Head coach Jesse Marsch said the game is an opportunity to engage fans in Western Canada and build momentum ahead of the World Cup, which Canada will co-host later in June. The...

Uzbekistan’s growing passion for birdwatching was celebrated in early January as prizes were awarded to winners of the national «Great Year-2025» competition, which has encouraged enthusiasts to explore the country through observing and photographing birds.

The contest sent participants across mountains, deserts, lakes and city streets in search of rare and striking species. In total, birdwatchers documented 335 different species in 2025, one of the highest results in the competition’s history.

The overall winner was American birdwatcher Emilio Zapata, who recorded 287 species during the year. He was followed by Marina Almazova with 259 species and Erik Salimov

CCA Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s first permanent centre dedicated to contemporary art, will officially open in March 2026, marking a major milestone for the country’s cultural landscape.

Founded by Gayane Umerova and led by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent will open to the public on March 21 in a restored 1912 industrial building redesigned by French architecture studio Studio KO. The institution aims to function as both an exhibition space and a civic hub, combining contemporary art, education, research and public programmes.

Artistic director Dr Sara Raza will lead the centre’s programme...

JinkoSolar has signed a memorandum of understanding to supply 300 megawatts of its high-efficiency solar modules for utility-scale projects in Uzbekistan, marking a further step in the country’s push to expand renewable energy capacity.

Under the agreement, JinkoSolar will provide its Tiger Neo 3.0 photovoltaic modules to several Uzbek developers, including Arif, Power Sun, Darian Solar and Deltron Energy. The modules are designed for ground-mounted solar plants and are well suited to Uzbekistan’s arid and desert conditions, where reflective sandy surfaces enhance the performance of bifacial technology.

The company said the Tiger Neo 3.0 modules offer high power...

The Trump administration will suspend all U.S. visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting January 21, the State Department confirmed on Wednesday.

A spokesperson said the pause, first reported by Fox News, would apply while the department reassesses its visa procedures, though no timeline was given for when processing might resume. US embassies have been instructed to refuse visa applications under existing law during the review.

Countries reportedly affected include Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand. The move comes as part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for...

Chelsea could intensify competition on the wings just months after signing Alejandro Garnacho, as the club continues to explore attacking reinforcements.

The Blues secured the Argentine winger from Manchester United last summer for £40 mln, but reports suggest Chelsea remain keen to add another wide player to ease the creative burden on Cole Palmer. The club is said to admire powerful, direct attackers and had previously enquired about Antoine Semenyo before he joined Manchester City for £64 million.

Garnacho has struggled for consistency since arriving at Stamford Bridge, similar to fellow winger Jamie Gittens, and the possible arrival...

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...