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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...

K-pop group BTS have announced a 79-date world tour, marking their return to the stage after a four-year hiatus and setting up one of the largest global concert runs in recent years.

The tour will span Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America and Australia, with performances planned in major cities including London, Tokyo, Munich, Sydney and Los Angeles. It will be the band’s first extensive international tour outside the United States and South Korea since 2018.

BTS previously set records with their last world tour, which generated about $246 mln in revenue and made them the first Korean...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released new online resources explaining aircraft contrails and geoengineering, as interest in, and misinformation about, climate intervention technologies continues to grow.

The EPA said the materials are intended to address persistent conspiracy theories around so-called «chemtrails» and to clarify the scientific difference between ordinary condensation trails from aircraft and speculative climate technologies such as solar geoengineering. The agency stressed that contrails are simply ice crystals formed from aircraft exhaust and are not evidence of chemical spraying.

The move comes amid renewed debate over solar geoengineering, a controversial field of climate research that explores ways...

Iranian authorities have for the first time acknowledged that roughly 2,000 people, including security personnel, have been killed in two weeks of nationwide protests, an official told Reuters. The official, who spoke anonymously, blamed what he called terrorists for the deaths but did not provide a detailed breakdown.

Among those reportedly killed are 26-year-old football coach Amir Mohammad Koohkan and 23-year-old Kurdish fashion student Aminian. Iranian state media also broadcast funeral processions for members of the security forces who were killed during the unrest.

The unrest, sparked by severe economic hardship, has been the most serious domestic challenge for...

Meta Platforms has appointed former Trump adviser Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chair, as the company ramps up investment in artificial intelligence and seeks closer ties with the Trump administration.

The appointment was announced in Meta’s official newsletter, with chief executive Mark Zuckerberg citing Powell McCormick’s experience in global finance and government as key to guiding the company through its next phase of growth. President Donald Trump welcomed the move, praising Powell McCormick in a social media post.

The leadership change comes as Meta accelerates spending on AI infrastructure, including a $27 bn data centre project...

A Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by U.S. and UK forces in the North Atlantic has arrived in British waters under escort.

The tanker, Marinera, was escorted by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel and UK tugboats into the Moray Firth in northern Scotland, where it has now dropped anchor. The ship is not currently visible on marine tracking systems after its transponder was reportedly switched off.

The vessel was boarded on January 7 in waters between Iceland and Scotland after being tracked by U.S. forces for more than two weeks. U.S. European Command said the tanker was linked to Venezuelan oil...

UNICEF said on Tuesday that more than 100 children have died in Gaza since the early October ceasefire, including victims of drone and quadcopter attacks.

«Over 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the October ceasefire,» UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters via video link from Gaza.

«While the bombings and shootings have eased during the ceasefire, they have not stopped, and survival remains precarious.»

Elder noted that nearly all of the 60 boys and 40 girls were killed in military actions, including air strikes, drone attacks, tank fire, gunfire, and quadcopters, while...

As of January 1, 2026, Uzbekistan had 474,900 registered businesses, according to the State Statistics Committee.

Trade remains the dominant sector, hosting 153,200 companies or 32.3% of all businesses. Small businesses account for 85% of organisations, totalling 403,800. Tashkent leads in concentration with 108,700 companies, followed by Tashkent Region (46,500), Samarkand (41,200) and Fergana (38,200).

Limited liability companies (LLCs) remain the most popular legal form, with 170,400 commercial structures operating under this model.

The number of companies with foreign capital rose 22% over the year to 18,100. China leads with 5,000 enterprises, followed by Russia (3,200) and Turkey...

Uzbekneftegaz was tasked with raising daily gas production from 66 mln to 70 mln cubic metres and ensuring annual output of at least 25.4 bn cubic metres this year. The instructions were issued during a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the company’s plans and priorities.

The president said expanding gas reserves would require intensified geological exploration, the creation of new investment blocks and faster work on fields already transferred to investors.

Naphtha processing was discussed separately. Mirziyoyev noted that existing facilities are operating at only 70% capacity and that products are being exported at prices about...

Yoweri Museveni, who seized power in Uganda in 1986 promising to end leaders’ grip on office, is seeking a seventh presidential term at the age of 81 after nearly four decades in charge.

The former rebel leader initially won praise for restoring stability, tackling the AIDS epidemic and defeating the Lord’s Resistance Army. But critics say his rule has been marked by entrenched corruption and increasingly authoritarian tactics. Professor Kristof Titeca of the University of Antwerp said corruption has been central to Museveni’s governance from the start.

Museveni denies tolerating graft, saying officials found guilty have been prosecuted. He...

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) reports that Uzbekistan’s banking sector net profit surged 57.1% year-on-year to 13.5 trln soums ($1.1bn) in the fourth quarter of 2025.

​The study covered 35 commercial banks, split into 20 large and 15 small institutions. According to the CERR, total banking sector assets amounted to 892.9 trln soums ($74.2 bn) during the reporting period. Liabilities stood at 759.8 trln soums ($63.1 bn).

Key performance indicators showed positive momentum. Lending activity increased by 13% and deposits grew by 31%. The share of non-performing loans decreased from 4.3% a year earlier to 3.5%, indicating...

A new natural gas flow has been recorded at the Shagirlik-quyi Yura No. 2 exploratory well in the Muynak field on the Ustyurt Plateau, Uzbek news agency UzA reports.

Geologists identified gas-bearing layers at a depth of 5,000 metres, and drilling operations were completed on January 10, 2026. The work is being carried out jointly by Uzbekgeofizika JSC and the State Institute of Geology and Exploration of Oil and Gas Fields.

Officials say the discovery could significantly boost the prospects for hydrocarbon development in the region. As part of the ongoing project, two additional exploratory wells — No...