News

A giant bluefin tuna sold for a record 510.3 mln yen, about $3.2 mln, at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on Monday during the first auction of the year.

The 243 kg fish was purchased by Kiyomura Corp, the operator of the Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, which has outlets across Japan and overseas. Company president Kiyoshi Kimura said the first tuna of the year is believed to bring good fortune.

Kimura, often dubbed the «Tuna King,» is known for placing high bids at New Year auctions. He told reporters he was surprised by the final price, saying he had expected to...

Cadillac has confirmed Zhou Guanyu as its reserve driver ahead of the team’s debut season in Formula 1.

Zhou, who raced for Alfa Romeo and later Kick Sauber between 2022 and 2024, becomes the latest addition to the American outfit’s line-up. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez have been named as race drivers, while former IndyCar competitor Colton Herta will serve as test driver.

During his three seasons in Formula 1, Zhou contested 68 Grands Prix and scored points seven times, including on his debut at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix. The 26-year-old also secured Kick Sauber’s only points...

The Ministry of Energy reports that an oil leak at the M-25 field in Boysun district has been contained. Additional protective ponds were constructed around the site to prevent the spill from spreading beyond the area.

Collected oil is regularly transported to a specialised facility, where it is safely stored in two isolated ponds of 5,000 cubic metres each and prepared for future use.

«All work is carried out in full compliance with current industrial and environmental safety standards,» the ministry said.

Authorities also confirmed that some oil entered a water channel, and clean-up operations...

In 2025, Uzbekistan fully renovated 787 km of main power transmission lines, the Ministry of Energy reports.

The country also repaired 29,500 km of distribution networks, nine transformers at main substations and 10,200 transformer units. As part of broader modernisation, 8,600 km of power lines, 2,300 transformer units and 28 substations were upgraded, improving electricity supply to more than 800,000 households.

Alongside these infrastructure improvements, electricity consumption grew 14% over the year, reaching 77.1 bn kWh.

Uzbekistan also continued developing green energy, launching small solar installations with a total capacity of 2 GW and achieving electricity savings of...

Ahn Sung-ki, one of South Korean cinema’s most respected and long-serving actors, has died at the age of 74. His career, lasting over 60 years, included more than 130 films, featuring major hits such as «Silmido» and «Radio Star.»

His death was confirmed by his agency, Artist Company, and Seoul’s Soonchunhyang University Hospital, which said Ahn had been fighting blood cancer, according to the Associated Press. He began acting as a child at age five, debuting in 1957’s «The Twilight Train,» and appeared in around 70 films before taking a break during his teenage years.

After graduating with...

From January to November 2025, Uzbekistan exported $2.3 bn worth of textiles, down 11.5% compared with the same period in 2024, the State Statistics Committee reports.

More than half of these exports (52%) came from finished textile products, while yarn accounted for 28% and knitted fabric 11%. The remaining 9% included fabrics, socks and carpets.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s total exports during the first eleven months of 2025 reached $30.9 bn, an increase of 26.2% year-on-year. The country’s total foreign trade turnover amounted to $72.8 bn.

Kursiv also reports that from January to October 2025, Kyrgyzstan delivered 17,600 tonnes of...

Lando Norris will pay the largest FIA super license fee ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season after scoring the most points in 2025.

For the past four years, Max Verstappen had held this position, but Norris overtook him after finishing two points ahead.

All F1 drivers must hold an FIA super license, which permits them to compete at the top level of motorsport. The cost of the license exceeds €1 mln for the season’s highest-scoring drivers.

The fee includes a flat rate of €11,842, which applies to all drivers. This will be paid by returning competitors such as Valtteri...

From January to October 2025, Kyrgyzstan delivered 17,600 tonnes of sugar to Uzbekistan, marking a 39% increase compared with the previous year, Tazabek reports.

In value terms, exports rose from $8.7 mln to $12 mln. Kyrgyzstan also supplied smaller quantities to Tajikistan and Afghanistan, shipping 108 tonnes and 15 tonnes respectively.

According to Uzbekistan’s State Statistics Committee, by early November 2025 the country’s food imports had surpassed $3.5 bn, an 18% increase year-on-year.

Bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan reached $787.3 mln over the first ten months of 2025, up from $674.4 mln during the same period in 2024.

Samsung Electronics plans to double this year the number of its mobile devices equipped with artificial intelligence features powered by Google’s Gemini, its co-CEO said, a move that could strengthen the U.S. tech firm’s position as competition in AI accelerates.

The South Korean company had deployed Gemini-based AI functions across about 400 mln devices including smartphones and tablets by last year and aims to raise that total to 800 mln in 2026.

«We will apply AI to all products, all functions and all services as quickly as possible,» T M Roh told Reuters in his...

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States could launch another military strike on Venezuela after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro if remaining officials do not cooperate with Washington’s plans for the country.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump also suggested Colombia and Mexico could face U.S. military action if they fail to curb illicit drug flows. He said Cuba, a close Venezuelan ally, could collapse without U.S. intervention.

Maduro is being held in New York ahead of a court appearance on drug charges, an action the U.S. has described as a law enforcement operation...

BTS will release their fifth studio album on March 20, 2026, marking the group’s first full-length release in three years and nine months, their label BIGHIT MUSIC announced.

The album signals a new chapter for the global K-pop group and offers a glimpse into the musical direction they plan to take going forward. All seven members were closely involved in writing and producing the songs, drawing on their personal experiences, emotions and challenges from recent years.

The record features 14 tracks and is described as a deeply personal project aimed at fans who have been waiting for BTS to...

President Donald Trump announced early Saturday that U.S. forces had successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a carefully planned operation. The mission, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, involved months of preparation, including CIA surveillance and detailed rehearsals by elite units such as Delta Force.

Officials said a small CIA team had been on the ground since August, providing insight into Maduro’s daily routine. Intelligence assets close to the Venezuelan leader helped pinpoint his location, allowing Special Forces to act with precision. Trump approved the mission four days before its execution, with the final go-ahead given...

Era Motorsport has confirmed its driver roster for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona, highlighted by former Formula 1 racer Logan Sargeant, Motorsport reports. He will be joined by endurance star Ferdinand Habsburg and tech innovator Naveen Rao, along with a FIA silver-rated driver yet to be named. The quartet will compete in the No. 18 Oreca 07 LMP2 in the prestigious endurance race.

This will be Sargeant’s debut at the Rolex 24, with his only previous IMSA experience coming in the final two rounds of the 2025 season with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports.

«I’m super excited...

Swiss police have confirmed the identities of 16 additional victims killed in the deadly fire at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. Authorities said the youngest was a 14-year-old Swiss girl, with nine of those identified under the age of 18.

The victims include citizens of Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Turkey and France. With the latest identifications, the total number of confirmed dead now stands at 24. Eight Swiss nationals were identified and returned to their families on Saturday.

A criminal investigation is under way into the operators of Le Constellation bar as families continue to wait...

Food delivery costs in Uzbekistan climbed 6.4% in November 2025 compared with the same month in 2024, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Compared with October, prices increased by 0.5% last month. The rise affected the entire food delivery sector, reflecting higher costs across the industry. Officials said the increase is linked to growing expenses in logistics and general operations.

Kursiv also reports that Drivers for Yandex Go can now pick up passengers directly at the arrivals hall at Tashkent airport.

Over 100 people were forced to take refuge at a mountain-top shrine in Japan after heavy snow made surrounding roads impassable.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that around 130 visitors spent Friday night in the halls and lobbies of Mitsumine Shrine in Saitama prefecture after authorities closed nearby roads over safety concerns. Local officials confirmed that occupants of roughly 50 cars stayed inside the shrine and said no one had become ill.

Japan is currently experiencing heavy snowfall, with up to 40cm expected in some areas on Saturday. The Japan Meteorological Agency reports that up to 80cm of snow has...

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the managers of a Crans-Montana bar where a fire killed 40 people and injured 119, officials said.

The French couple, identified by media as Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, according to the Valais prosecutor’s office.

Eight Swiss victims have been identified so far, all aged 16-24, with many of the dead and missing believed to be teenagers. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire at Le Constellation may have started when sparklers on bottles were carried too close...

Uzbekistan plans to draft and adopt 29 new legal and regulatory acts in 2026 as part of its efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), a presidential representative said.

Azizbek Urunov, the president’s envoy on WTO accession, said the country has already completed bilateral market access negotiations with 33 of the WTO’s 34 members involved in the process. Talks with Taiwan remain unresolved.

In 2025, Uzbekistan adopted 30 legal documents linked to WTO accession, including laws, presidential decrees, government resolutions and sector-specific regulations, Urunov said.

The 29 new acts will cover key areas of trade regulation, including customs...

Telegram has unveiled its first large-scale update of 2026, adding new tools for content consumption and rolling out a refreshed interface for iOS devices.

The update introduces AI-powered summaries that automatically condense lengthy posts in channels and Instant View pages. Users can quickly grasp the key points of long articles and see short summaries displayed at the top of Instant View pages.

Telegram said the feature is powered by open-source AI models running on the decentralised Cocoon network. The company said this approach ensures user data protection and encryption during request processing.

New iOS design

The iOS version...

The United States has told airlines its Caribbean airspace restrictions will expire at midnight ET (0500 GMT), allowing flights to resume as schedules are updated, Reuters reports.

The announcement followed the cancellation of hundreds of flights after the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Major carriers, including United Airlines and Delta, said they expected to resume normal Caribbean operations by Sunday. United confirmed a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday night and said it expects most scheduled flights to operate on Sunday. Delta also said it plans to fly its normal schedule, adjusting resources as...

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States was placing Venezuela under temporary American control after U.S. forces captured President Nicolas Maduro in a surprise operation and flew him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.

«We will run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,» Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. «We can’t take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn’t have the interests of Venezuelans in mind.»

Raid and arrest

Uzbekistan boosted electricity production by 6.4% in 2025, reaching 86.7 bn kWh. Supply to consumers rose 14% to over 77 bn kWh, narrowing the gap between production and delivery.

Renewables now provide around 20% of the country’s electricity. Solar and wind output more than doubled to 10.5 bn kWh. Hydro, solar, and wind together generated 16.8 bn kWh. These green sources saved 3.2 bn m³ of gas and prevented 4.7 mln tonnes of emissions.

Last year, Uzbekistan launched 42 projects with a total capacity of 4,647 MW, including solar, wind, battery storage, a thermal plant, and cogeneration units. Construction began on 21 more projects totalling 3,508 MW.

The country also upgraded its...

Uzbekistan aims to boost exports to Iraq and Syria in 2026, with potential shipments reaching $650 mln, according to Chamber of Commerce head Davron Vakhabov. Electrical equipment and construction materials hold the greatest potential in both markets.

Iraq imports around $93 bn worth of goods annually. Uzbek exports could rise to $500 mln next year, up from the current $50 mln, with Erbil serving as a key duty-free hub for regional trade, including shipments to Syria.

In Syria, demand spans food, electrical equipment, vehicles, spare parts, and lubricants. Uzbek companies could export $100–150 mln in 2026. Transport costs are around $3,300 to Baghdad...

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that global renewable freshwater availability per capita has fallen by 7% over the past ten years, highlighting a sharp escalation of the worldwide water crisis.

New data from the AQUASTAT database show that almost every region now faces declining water resources. Central Asia stands out among the most affected regions, having lost 12% of its available water. Experts link this trend primarily to the region’s water-use model, where agriculture accounts for more than 80% of total withdrawals.

To measure shortages, FAO specialists use the «water stress» indicator, which compares water abstraction with available...