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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed that European leaders are privately forming «war councils» to prepare for victory in a potential third world war, alleging the EU is shifting away from diplomacy towards large-scale military confrontation with Russia.

Speaking at an anti-war rally on 17 January, Orban said discussions among EU leaders in Brussels were no longer focused on peace efforts but on how to defeat Russia and impose reparations, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. He warned that Europe was «steadily moving towards direct conflict» with Moscow.

Orban, a frequent critic of...

Hackers have disrupted Iranian state television broadcasts to air messages from exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi, urging the military to side with protesters amid a widening crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

Online video circulating despite a nationwide internet blackout shows several channels operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting briefly airing clips of Pahlavi calling on soldiers and security forces to «join the people» and stop targeting civilians. Graphics shown during the hacked broadcasts appealed directly to the army, urging it to lay down its weapons and support what was described as a popular movement for freedom.

Pahlavi, the...

Pakistani firefighters began recovering bodies from the charred remains of a vast shopping mall in Karachi on January 19. More than 60 people remain missing after a huge blaze that killed at least 19 people.

The fire began late on Saturday at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey complex in Karachi’s historic centre that houses around 1,200 shops and covers an area larger than a football field. The blaze burned for more than 24 hours before being largely extinguished, and videos showed flames tearing through the building as firefighters battled through the night.

On January 19, crews moved to cool...

Most of the highly liquid stocks listed on the Tashkent Republican Stock Exchange showed positive performance between January 9 and 16, helping the UCI fund index climb 3.43%.

During this period, ordinary shares of Ipoteka-bank posted the largest increase, rising 82.39%. Shares of Aloqabank also gained 43.18%, while ordinary shares of Uzsanoatqurilishbank increased by 40.31%.

On the other hand, Uzbekgeofizika shares fell 2.93%, recording the biggest weekly decline. Shares of UzAuto Motors fell 1.85%, and preferred shares of Uzsanoatqurilishbank dropped 1.83%. Only ordinary shares of Biznesni rivojlantirish banki remained unchanged.

Of the highly liquid stocks, 24 ended the week...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received an official invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to take part in an international initiative focused on strengthening peace in the Middle East and resolving regional conflicts.

The proposal is based on a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict announced on September 29, 2025. The plan has received support from world leaders and was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 adopted on November 17, 2025.

A central pillar of the initiative is the creation of a Board of Peace, a new international body designed to bring together states willing to take...

The International Monetary Fund has warned that rising geopolitical tensions and a possible escalation of Donald Trump’s tariff war could slow global economic growth and unsettle financial markets.

In an update to its World Economic Outlook, the IMF said renewed trade tensions, including Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Nato allies opposing his stance on Greenland, represent one of the biggest risks to global growth in 2026. The UK is among eight European countries facing potential sanctions.

The fund cautioned that a breakdown in relations between major economies could prolong uncertainty, disrupt supply chains and affect commodity prices...

An unnamed Iranian official said on January 18 that authorities had confirmed at least 5,000 deaths in protests across the country, including about 500 security personnel. The official blamed “terrorists and armed rioters” for the killings.

The official told Reuters that some of the fiercest clashes and the highest death tolls were in Kurdish areas in northwest Iran, where Kurdish separatists have been active and unrest has previously been intense. He said the final death toll was not expected to rise sharply and claimed that “Israel and armed groups abroad” had supported and armed the protesters.

Iranian authorities often...

At least 39 people died and dozens were injured January 18 evening when two trains collided in southern Spain. This marks the country’s worst rail disaster in more than a decade.

A Madrid-bound train derailed near Adamuz, crossed onto the opposite track and struck an oncoming locomotive, according to the Civil Guard. The impact occurred around 7:45 p.m. local time on a straight stretch of track near Cordoba.

Officials reported that 400 passengers and staff were on board the two trains. Emergency services treated 122 people at the scene. 48 people remain hospitalised, including five children. Eleven adults...

Uzbekistan’s tourism recorded a 46.8% expansion in 2025 as total foreign arrivals reached 11.7 mln, according to the National Committee on Statistics.

Neighbouring Central Asian nations dominated the visitor profile, collectively generating approximately 77.5% of the total traffic. The Kyrgyz Republic was the single largest source market, accounting for a 28.2% share of all arrivals.

Tajikistan and Kazakhstan followed closely, with each country contributing roughly 23% to the total visitor count. Russian travellers represented the next significant bloc, making up approximately 8.5% of the overall influx.

Among other key markets, Afghanistan accounted for 4.1% of arrivals, followed by Turkmenistan...

Bay Area rock band Green Day will open the Super Bowl LX ceremony, the NFL announced on Sunday. The event is set for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The NFL said the band will begin the show by escorting generations of Super Bowl MVPs onto the field, while performing a selection of their best-known rock anthems.

«We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard,» Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong said. «We are honoured to welcome the MVPs who’ve shaped the game and...

Firefighters in Karachi began searching on January 19 for more than 60 people still missing after a huge blaze destroyed a shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest city, with the death toll rising to 11.

The fire erupted late on January 17 at the sprawling Gul Plaza shopping centre in the city’s business district and continued burning for over 24 hours, hindering rescue operations in the densely packed area. After a day of intense firefighting, crews moved to cooling and clearing debris on January 18, but officials warned that victims could still be trapped inside.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed

Negotiations have started on easing the U.S. visa regime for Uzbek citizens, Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the United States, Furqat Siddiqov, told Daryo in an interview.

Siddiqov said regular efforts are underway to make U.S. visas easier to obtain for Uzbek citizens, but he cautioned that achieving the desired result would not be simple.

«Securing visa-free entry to the United States is a process that will take a long time,» he said. «But we are holding talks on this.»

The ambassador added that the type of visa arrangement and its conditions would depend on U.S...

Uzbekistan is considering the purchase or local assembly of the Chinese-made VN22 armoured vehicle, according to Defence Blog.

The vehicle was recently spotted at Uzbekistan’s Military Scientific and Technical Institute, prompting speculation that local engineers are evaluating options to buy, modify or assemble the platform domestically. Defence Blog noted that Uzbekistan has previously used foreign military platforms as benchmarks for its own development programmes.

The VN22 is an export-oriented wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed by China’s state-owned defence company Norinco. It is designed as a multi-purpose platform for troop transport, patrol missions and infantry fire support. The vehicle features...

Uzbek airline Centrum Air received a new Airbus A321neo, marking the 14th aircraft in its fleet.

The jet, registered UK32133, arrived from Ljubljana on January 17 and landed at Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport at 7:33 p.m. local time.

The Airbus A321neo is part of the A320 family of narrow-body aircraft and offers improved fuel efficiency and a longer range than earlier versions. It is equipped with new-generation engines and upgraded aerodynamics, helping to cut fuel consumption and reduce emissions.

Configured with 221 economy-class seats, the aircraft is suited to high-demand routes, the airline said. Its extended range compared with...

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions after wildfires killed at least 18 people and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

More than 50,000 residents were evacuated from the Nuble and Biobio regions, about 500 kilometres south of Santiago. Boric said the number of deaths was likely to rise.

The most severe blaze tore through dry woodland near the coastal city of Concepcion, destroying about 250 homes. Local media showed burnt-out vehicles lining the streets.

Chile’s forestry agency Conaf said firefighters were tackling 24 fires nationwide on Sunday, with the...

At least 21 people were killed after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, with officials warning the death toll could increase overnight. More than 30 people are being treated in hospital for serious injuries, Transport Minister Oscar Puente said.

The crash occurred near the town of Adamuz, close to Cordoba, when a train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto another track before hitting an oncoming service heading from Madrid to Huelva. Andalusian emergency services said at least 73 people were injured overall.

Puente described the incident as highly unusual, noting that the derailment happened on...

Car sales in Uzbekistan increased by 6.1% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 427,095 vehicles, as demand for passenger cars and electric vehicles continued to grow, industry data show.

Uzbek buyers purchased more than 368,000 passenger cars, up 5.2% from the previous year. The strongest momentum came from the electric segment, where sales surged by 35%, highlighting a rapid shift in consumer preferences.

Best-selling models

Chevrolet dominated the market, with Cobalt leading sales at 128,500 units, followed by Damas with 108,800 and Tracker at 45,400 vehicles. Sales of Labo rose almost 1.5 times, while demand for Onix edged down by 1.9%.

Market shares and brands

ADM Jizzakh expanded its market share to 10.8%, while BYD Uzbekistan Factory increased its share to 5.6%. Sales of Kia Sonet and Haval M6 grew by around...

National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that annual inflation in Kyrgyzstan stood at 8.9% in September 2025, reflecting mounting external pressures on prices.

According to the regulator, inflation accelerated amid high volatility in global food prices, a strained fuel and lubricants market in Russia, and stronger external demand for certain Kyrgyz-made products.

The central bank said the main risks to the economy remain external, including fluctuations in food and energy prices and continued uncertainty in the global economic environment.

At the same time, the regulator warned that domestic demand could rise as household incomes grow, potentially adding to inflationary pressures in the coming months.

Kursiv...

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has acknowledged that thousands of people were killed during weeks of nationwide protests in Iran, accusing Donald Trump of encouraging the unrest and bearing responsibility for the deaths.

In a televised address published on his official website on Saturday, Khamenei described Trump as a «criminal» who had «openly encouraged» protesters by promising US military support. He said Washington was responsible both for the casualties and for damage caused during the demonstrations, which began in late December amid anger over soaring prices and the collapse of the Iranian rial.

Khamenei did not address allegations of excessive force by...

Sri Lanka has unveiled what is believed to be the largest sapphire ever discovered. According to the Associated Press, the gemstone weighs 3,563 carats and is valued at $300 mln –$400 mln.

The rare purple star sapphire, named Star of Pure Land, was found near the city of Ratnapura, a long-established centre of gemstone mining. The stone was officially presented to the public in January 2026.

AP reports that the sapphire displays a pronounced asterism effect — a distinctive star pattern visible on its surface — which significantly increases both its collectible appeal and market value. Experts...

Almost one million people in Kazakhstan completed artificial intelligence training in 2025 as part of a nationwide push to build digital skills, according to the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan.

More than 900,000 citizens gained both basic and applied AI competencies, designed to support work and education amid the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across the economy. The training focused on practical use cases, ranging from everyday interaction with AI-powered services to advanced preparation of IT specialists and the integration of AI into organisational processes.

The programme covered several levels, including mass AI literacy, IT workforce training, upskilling of public sector employees, support...

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran needs new leadership, accusing the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of destroying the state and using widespread violence against the population.

«It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,» Trump said in comments to Politico.

According to the US president, Iran’s current authorities maintain control through repression and fear. He also said the leadership was responsible for the deaths of thousands of protesters during recent mass demonstrations.

Trump’s remarks followed a series of posts published on X under Khamenei’s name, in which the Iranian leader accused the United...

National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan has launched the country’s first population census since independence, marking a major step toward building a comprehensive and reliable statistical base for long-term development.

The census will provide updated data on population size and structure, migration, family status and employment, as well as more accurate information on agricultural land use and livestock numbers. Officials outlined the goals, timeline and procedures at a briefing held ahead of the launch.

Authorities describe the combined population and agricultural census as a key statistical exercise with broad implications for social and economic policy. The results will underpin future government programmes, regional development plans and...

Central Asia is set to attract $53bn in investment for transport infrastructure, accounting for more than 22% of total funding under the Eurasian transport framework, according to a report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

The funding will support around 90 infrastructure projects across the region, including major international corridors such as TRACECA, North–South, and the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, as well as new strategic routes linking China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan and Tajikistan–Afghanistan–Turkmenistan.

Road construction will absorb the largest share of investment, with 58% of funds allocated to highways and related infrastructure. Railway projects will account for 34.5%, reflecting efforts to modernise cross-border logistics and improve regional connectivity.

According to the EDB, these projects aim to strengthen Central Asia’s...