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Uzbekistan plans to increase venture capital investment to $2 bn and expand the number of startups to 5,000 by 2030 under a presidential decree issued by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The strategy also aims to commercialise 2,000 youth startup ideas and bring around 400 of them to international markets.

Winners of innovation contests and hackathons will be eligible for loans of up to $20,000 from state-backed venture funds.

Entrepreneurs may also apply for grants of up to $10,000 under the Digital Startups programme.

From 2027, research and development centres will open across the country to support early-stage companies. These...

Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov delivered one of the biggest surprises in Olympic figure skating history, capturing gold at the Milano Cortina Games after overwhelming favourite Ilia Malinin crumbled in the free skate.

Malinin, widely tipped to dominate the men’s event, saw his programme unravel in dramatic fashion and finished outside the medals despite leading after the short programme.

Favourite’s free skate falls apart

The American had planned an ambitious layout featuring seven quadruple jumps, including the quad Axel, a jump only he has landed in competition. But from the outset his routine went awry.

An intended quad Axel became...

Uzbekistan added 962 new accommodation facilities in 2025, including 136 hotels, 528 family guest houses and 298 hostels, officials said at the Hotel Business Forum 2026 in Tashkent.

As of January 1, 2026, the country had 6,900 accommodation facilities with a combined capacity of 185,600 beds.

The national hotel market now includes several major international chains such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Accor, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group, Hilton and Hyatt.

Uzbekistan welcomed 11.6 mln foreign visitors in 2025.

Under the domestic tourism initiative Travel Around Uzbekistan, residents made 23.7 mln trips across the country’s regions during the year...

The production team behind the popular comedy programme What Happened Next? (Что было дальше?) may relocate filming to Kazakhstan, according to the Telegram channel Mash.

The reported move follows a decision to bar comedian Nurlan Saburov from entering Russia for 50 years. Relocating production would allow the creators to invite international guests without restrictions and formally register the show’s trademark.

In Russia, the project’s producers, Maxim and Daria Morozov, were unable to secure legal rights to the brand through the courts.

The show remains commercially successful. Each regular episode generates around 35 mln roubles ($452,200) in advertising revenue...

Uzbekistan will establish a digital platform titled «Unified National Project Management», officials said following a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The system is designed to track each project for three years after its launch to ensure it remains operational, generates high added value and successfully enters export markets.

Mirziyoyev said that in previous years attracting investment and launching a project were often considered sufficient indicators of success. In practice, however, a number of major initiatives stalled after their formal start.

Last year alone, 55 projects were not completed on time due to problems with feasibility studies, equipment...

Uzbekistan plans to increase the volume of construction work to 400 trln soums ($32.7 bn) this year, targeting sector growth of at least 17%, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev told officials.

The president tasked relevant ministries and agencies with accelerating activity across the industry, highlighting the role of state-funded infrastructure projects in driving demand.

Around 40 trln soums ($3.3 bn) allocated from the state budget for social and industrial infrastructure is expected to generate substantial orders for construction firms, as well as companies in metallurgy, electrical engineering and building materials production.

Mirziyoyev stressed the need for tighter oversight of regional...

Seven medal events lit up Day 7 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering record-breaking performances, historic milestones and stunning upsets across multiple sports.

From cross-country dominance by Johannes Hosflot Klæbo to a shock figure skating upset, Friday’s action showcased both expected champions and dramatic twists.

Klæbo Moves Closer to Olympic Immortality

Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klæbo strengthened his claim as one of the greatest cross-country skiers of all time, winning the men’s 10km free for his eighth Olympic gold.

The 29-year-old matched the Winter Games record for gold medals, joining Norwegian legends Bjorn Dæhlie, Marit Bjorgen

South Korea endured a medal-less day at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, narrowly missing the podium in both figure skating and snowboarding on Friday.

Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan came closest to securing a medal, finishing fourth in the men’s singles with 273.92 points. He fell just 0.98 points short of bronze after an early mistake on a quadruple toe loop in the free skate, though he recovered with an otherwise clean performance.

In snowboarding, Lee Chaeun placed sixth in the men’s halfpipe at Livigno Snow Park. After struggling in his first two runs, Lee landed all five tricks in his...

Indian cricket fans are flocking to Colombo despite soaring travel and accommodation costs as anticipation builds for Sunday’s blockbuster T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan.

Flights and hotels in Sri Lanka have surged in price following Pakistan’s late confirmation for the match, with some round-trip fares from India rising several times above usual levels. Yet thousands of supporters are still making the trip to witness one of sport’s most intense rivalries.

Travel demand spiked after uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation was resolved just days before the fixture. Even fans who booked early reported paying steep premiums due to high...

Team GB secured its first medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics as Matt Weston stormed to gold in the men’s skeleton with a dominant performance in Cortina.

The double world champion delivered a near-flawless display at the Cortina Sliding Centre, setting four consecutive track records across the four-run competition to finish well clear of the field.

Weston led from the opening day, establishing early control with record times in both initial heats. He carried a 0.3-second advantage into the final day and extended it further with another blistering run that left his rivals chasing.

Heading into the final...

The men’s figure skating final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Games. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov stunned the field by capturing gold, capitalizing on a dramatic collapse from several top contenders — including heavy favourite Ilia Malinin.

Underdog Triumphs on Olympic Stage

Shaidorov, the 2025 world silver medallist, entered the free skate in fifth place but produced the performance of his life when it mattered most. His emotionally charged program earned a personal best and vaulted him to the top of the podium.

After the medal ceremony, Shaidorov said he focused...

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have reviewed the results of their bilateral cooperation in 2025 and identified key priorities for 2026 during diplomatic talks in Tashkent.

The discussions took place between Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bobur Usmanov and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination between their foreign ministries and agreed to develop new practical initiatives to strengthen their strategic partnership and allied relations.

Officials also highlighted the rapid growth in trade ties. Bilateral trade turnover between the two countries reached $268.9 mln from January...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to $2 bn, following high-level talks in Islamabad.

A formal reception ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s House in honour of the visiting Uzbek leader. The two sides held one-on-one discussions, followed by delegation-level talks focusing on trade, investment, regional connectivity, education and cultural exchanges.

Both leaders described their historical, religious and cultural ties as a strong foundation for deeper cooperation. They welcomed the activation of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and pledged to enhance collaboration across multiple sectors.

The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway...

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov, has rejected claims that the personal data of 15 mln citizens was leaked from government systems, calling the figure unconfirmed and exaggerated.

The allegations surfaced earlier this month after online discussions and posts on Reddit suggested that databases linked to Uzbek state institutions were circulating on darknet platforms. Some users claimed the breach involved data relating to up to 15 million people, sparking widespread concern on social media.

Speaking at a press conference on February 12 at the Ministry of Digital Technologies, Shermatov said authorized bodies had launched an immediate technical...

Syria and Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and expanding bilateral trade ties.

The agreement was signed in Tashkent by the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan. The MoU provides for the organisation of joint business forums, support for companies participating in trade exhibitions, and enhanced cooperation in commercial arbitration. It also includes measures to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Officials from both sides described the deal as an important step toward deepening economic partnership and creating new opportunities for trade...

Pakistan offspinner Usman Tariq has emerged as one of the most talked-about players at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with his unusual bowling action drawing both praise and controversy.

The 28-year-old made an immediate impact in Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets against the United States in his tournament debut. His distinctive delivery, marked by a prolonged pause at the crease and a sling-like release, has unsettled batters and fuelled debate over its legality.

Critics have questioned whether Tariq exceeds the International Cricket Council’s 15-degree elbow flex limit, the threshold used to judge illegal bowling actions, commonly referred...

Italy claimed their first-ever win at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 10-wicket triumph over Nepal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest target of 124, Italy completed the run chase in just 12.4 overs without losing a wicket. Openers Anthony Mosca and Justin Mosca produced an unbeaten 124-run partnership to seal a landmark victory.

Anthony Mosca struck a rapid 62 off 32 balls, hitting three fours and six sixes, while Justin Mosca added a composed 60 from 44 deliveries, including five boundaries and three sixes, as Italy dominated Nepal’s bowling attack.

Earlier...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said transatlantic relations face a «defining moment» as global leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

Speaking ahead of the conference in Munich, Rubio acknowledged rapid geopolitical change but struck a notably warmer tone toward European allies after a turbulent year marked by tensions between Washington and its partners.

«The world is changing very fast right in front of us,» Rubio said. «The Old World is gone… and we live in a new era in geopolitics.»

He added that the United States remains «deeply tied to...

World leaders gathering at the Munich Security Conference were met with a stark warning from this year’s Munich Security Report, which criticises US President Donald Trump and cautions that the post-1945 international order is being dismantled.

The 123-page report, titled Under Destruction, argues that the world has entered an era of «wrecking-ball politics,» with sweeping disruption replacing gradual reform. It describes the United States, long seen as the architect of the global system established after the Second World War, as now being at the forefront of tearing it down.

While Trump has recently boasted of presiding over the...

U.S. artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has secured $30bn in fresh funding, more than doubling its valuation to $380bn in one of the largest private fundraising rounds on record.

The company, best known for its Claude chatbot, was valued at $183bn as recently as September. The latest round was led by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC and hedge fund Coatue Management, underscoring surging investor appetite for advanced AI models.

Anthropic said its annualised revenue has reached $14bn, growing more than tenfold in each of the past three years. A key driver has been Claude Code, its AI-powered coding tool...

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli silenced the doubters on Friday, setting the fastest time of the week to lead a Silver Arrows one-two finish as the first pre-season testing event concluded in Bahrain. The Italian teenager clocked a 1m 33.669s in the twilight conditions, edging out team-mate George Russell by 0.249s.

It was a vital confidence boost following a disjointed week. After reliability struggles defined day three, where Antonelli was sidelined by power unit issues, the youngster finally demonstrated the W17’s potential.

Antonelli’s appearance was delayed by an hour, but he wasted little time once out on track. He snatched...

The High Court has ruled that the UK government acted unlawfully in banning activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, citing a disproportionate interference with rights to free speech and assembly.

However, the proscription will remain in force while the government considers an appeal.

In its judgment, the court found that the group’s activities did not meet the «level, scale and persistence» required under terrorism legislation. Judges noted that only a limited number of incidents could potentially qualify as terrorism, making a full ban excessive.

The government swiftly defended its position. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the...

The final day of the opening pre-season test in Bahrain began at full throttle, with George Russell setting the benchmark as teams continued to gather crucial data ahead of next week’s second test.

With just one more session remaining before a brief turnaround, Friday morning offered the final opportunity of this first test to refine set-ups under Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 regulations.

Russell quickest as Mercedes respond

Russell topped the session for Mercedes with a 1m 33.918s, the fastest lap of the test so far. It marked a strong response from the Silver Arrows after reliability concerns...

Seventeen-year-old Choi Ga-on delivered one of the moments of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games by denying Chloe Kim a historic third consecutive Olympic halfpipe gold.

It seemed set to be a coronation for Kim, widely regarded as the greatest women’s halfpipe rider in history. Instead, it was the South Korean teenager who stood atop the podium, completing what Kim later described as a «full circle moment».

Choi recovered from a heavy fall on her opening run to produce a superb final attempt worth 90.25 points, a score the 25-year-old American could not match. Kim, competing with a shoulder brace after...