News

A mural in a central Rome church featuring an angel restored to resemble Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been painted over after sparking political and clerical outrage. The image, in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina near government offices, drew attention when first spotted by the newspaper la Repubblica on Saturday.

One of two angels in the chapel had been altered to closely mirror the 49-year-old right-wing leader, Italy’s first female prime minister. The depiction provoked criticism from opposition figures and irritation from Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome.

Under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, artefacts from Ancient Bactria were brought from the United Kingdom to the Center of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan. The exhibition sheds light on a civilisation that flourished in Central Asia long before Islam, building cities, establishing trade routes and producing sophisticated jewellery.

Jewellery and symbols of status

The exhibition highlights the region’s pre-Islamic craftsmanship, jewellery and symbolic thinking. Gold bracelets, once key symbols of social status, were inlaid with semi-precious stones such as agate, turquoise and lapis lazuli, serving as both decorative and status symbols.

Beads and necklaces display high-level...

Chinese company Wangneng Environment plans to invest $173 mln in the construction of a waste-to-energy plant in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region, according to Yicai Global.

The facility is expected to process up to 1,500 tonnes of waste per day, with construction scheduled for completion in 2028. Revenue is projected to come mainly from waste disposal services and the sale of electricity.

Yicai Global noted that the project will allow Wangneng Environment to expand its overseas operations amid intense competition in China’s domestic market.

Wangneng Environment specialises in waste-to-energy projects. The company designs, builds and operates waste incineration power plants as...

A 27-year-old man is accused of deliberately targeting children online. He has been charged with hundreds of child abuse related offences involving victims in Australia and at least 15 other countries, Queensland police said.

The man, who has been in custody since February last year, now faces 596 charges after investigators uncovered more than 23,000 images and videos of alleged abuse on his electronic devices.

Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark said the sheer scale of the material meant identifying victims required significant time and specialist effort. So far, 360 victims have been identified and investigations are continuing.

The number of tourists from Uzbekistan who visited Turkey in 2025 reached 268,900 people, marking a year-on-year increase of 17.4%, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Leisure travel accounted for the majority of visits, with 201,800 Uzbek citizens travelling to Turkey for tourism purposes. A further 58,900 people visited relatives living in the country.

Medical tourism also showed steady demand, with 3,700 Uzbeks travelling to Turkey for treatment. Another 2,500 people went to study, while 1,900 visited for work-related reasons.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s hotel sector does not plan to abandon the all-inclusive system in the upcoming season. A representative of...

UzOman Investment Company has acquired a 33.3% share in Hektas Asia LLC, the Uzbekistan-focused unit of OYAK’s Hektas, marking a strategic step in industrial cooperation between Central Asia, Oman and Turkey.

The stake increase — carried out through a $24.9 mln capital injection — was formalised at a signing event in Istanbul by Hektas CEO Enis Emre Terzi and UzOman Investment Director Mohammed Al Abri.

The partnership supports the construction of a high-technology agricultural chemicals facility in the Uzbek-Turkish Organised Industrial Zone near Tashkent, scheduled to begin operations in 2027. The project aims to boost local production of advanced agricultural...

Uzbekistan international forward Eldor Shomurodov could be set for a high-profile transfer within the Turkish Super League, with reports linking him to Fenerbahce.

According to local media, Fenerbahce have contacted Istanbul Basaksehir to discuss a possible deal for the striker, who has impressed this season with 14 goals in 20 league appearances. Basaksehir president Goksel Gumusdag is reportedly demanding around €20 million for the player.

Basaksehir are said to have invested €5.7 mln to sign Shomurodov, while 10% of any future transfer profit would go to AS Roma, his former club.

The reports come after earlier claims that...

Uzbekistan’s state energy company Uzbekneftegaz has held talks with leading Czech firms on introducing advanced mechanical engineering and industrial technologies into the country’s oil and gas sector.

The discussions took place during a three-day business mission from February 2 to 6, organised with the support of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

The Czech delegation included representatives from more than 10 companies specialising in mechanical engineering, energy, ICT and industrial solutions. Key participants included TOS VARNSDORF, TOSHULIN, TMC CR, ZDAS and KOVOFINIS.

The mission aims to...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to Pakistan on February 5–6, as the two countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.

According to the Uzbek president’s press service, Mirziyoyev will hold talks in Islamabad with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. The visit will also feature the inaugural meeting of the Uzbekistan–Pakistan Strategic Cooperation Council.

Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening political dialogue and expanding cooperation in trade, industry, transport, infrastructure, energy and tourism, as well as enhancing cultural and humanitarian ties...

U.S. President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro put months of sharp rhetoric behind them after a closed-door meeting at the White House, agreeing to cooperate on tackling drug trafficking.

The encounter marked the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders following a series of public insults exchanged in recent months. Despite the tension, Trump said the meeting was «very productive» and confirmed that the two sides had reached an understanding on combating narcotics trafficking, a long-standing point of friction given Colombia’s role as the world’s largest cocaine producer.

Petro struck a lighter tone after the talks...

The largest-ever release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein by the U.S. Department of Justice has triggered widespread controversy, exposing victims’ identities and fuelling political, legal and cybersecurity concerns worldwide.

The trove of documents, published in late January under transparency rules, was found to contain unredacted personal information, including nude images and identifying details of victims. Following urgent legal action, a federal judge in Manhattan approved an agreement to protect the identities of nearly 100 women and halted further public exposure.

The leak has reignited scrutiny of prominent figures linked to Epstein, including Elon Musk, Bill Gates and...

The iconic TV series The Muppet Show is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a one-off special on Disney+, reuniting Jim Henson’s beloved characters for a nostalgic return to the stage.

Created by Jim Henson, the original show ran from 1976 to 1981 and became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its chaotic vaudeville format, celebrity guests and unforgettable characters, including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

The anniversary special features guest appearances from Sabrina Carpenter, Seth Rogen and Maya Rudolph, blending classic Muppet humour with modern pop culture.

While reactions have been mixed among long-time fans, the special aims...

British fashion icon Twiggy is the face of Burberry’s new summer campaign, wearing pieces designed by creative director Daniel Lee.

At 76, the legendary model appears front and centre in the campaign, embodying Burberry’s blend of heritage, modernity and wearability. The cast also features a group of contemporary creatives, but Twiggy’s presence dominates, underlining her enduring influence on British style.

Stylists say her inclusion signals Burberry’s push toward timeless, cross-generational appeal, positioning the collection as both aspirational and accessible. Best known as the face of the 1960s fashion revolution, Twiggy remains one of Britain’s most recognisable cultural figures...

Royal Air Philippines has abruptly cancelled all scheduled commercial flights after entering liquidation, becoming the first airline to formally cease operations in 2026.

The Manila-based carrier confirmed on January 4 that it had suspended its entire flight schedule, leaving an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 passengers with bookings between January and March seeking alternative travel arrangements. In a statement on its website, the airline said it was working on refunds but gave no timeline for a possible return to service.

Founded in 2002 as a charter operator, Royal Air Philippines transitioned to a low-cost carrier model in 2018 and...

Global financial vulnerabilities are building in the $16 trillion market for government bond-backed repurchase agreements, the Financial Stability Board warned on Wednesday, citing rising leverage among hedge funds and increased reliance on short-term funding.

The FSB said outstanding government bond-backed repos rose about 20% since 2022, reaching roughly $16 trillion by the end of 2024. The United States accounts for nearly 60% of activity, followed by Britain, the euro zone and Japan.

In a report, the watchdog highlighted risks including high leverage, demand and supply imbalances, and concentration among borrowers and intermediaries, which could amplify market stress. Recent...

French authorities have raided the Paris offices of X as part of an expanding investigation into alleged cybercrime, including claims of algorithm manipulation and the spread of sexually explicit deepfakes.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the search was carried out by its cybercrime unit alongside national police and Europol. Prosecutors confirmed that Elon Musk and former X chief executive Linda Yaccarino have been summoned for questioning in April over their roles in managing the platform.

The probe, launched in January last year, initially focused on suspected abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data extraction. It has since been broadened...

Fans of Bridgerton who thought the lake scene in Season 4 Part 1 was steamy may be in for an even hotter moment. A newly released teaser shows Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha) approaching each other slowly behind a bathtub, hinting at an intimate encounter.

Part 2, which includes four more episodes, is set to premiere on February 26. The teaser focuses solely on the star couple of Season 4, but a preview at the end of Part 1 also hints at the return of Viscount Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), his wife Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) and their...

Malaysian firm Spora Global has proposed building a major tourist complex in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Region, including a world-class golf resort, according to Dunyо news agency.

The idea was discussed during a meeting with Uzbekistan’s ambassador, Karomiddin Gadoev, in Kuala Lumpur.

The project is planned as an all-season resort with additional facilities such as hotels, residential buildings, a water park and ski slopes for the winter season. Investors are prepared to develop the complex through a public-private partnership. A delegation from Spora Global is expected to visit Uzbekistan in the coming days to inspect potential construction sites.

Spora Global Sdn...

Australia, South Korea and Kuwait have officially indicated they want to host the 2035 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on February 4. These nations are also bidding for the 2031 tournament. Japan has expressed interest in hosting the 2035 edition only.

The AFC plans to decide on hosts for both tournaments at a single annual congress, following a proposal from its President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

“The AFC will now work with the respective bidding member associations to coordinate the submission of the required documentation,” the governing body said.

Take-Two Interactive has reaffirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, following multiple delays. The publisher also confirmed that Rockstar will begin its marketing campaign this summer, signalling strong confidence in the launch.

In its Q3 2026 earnings report, Take-Two stated that Fiscal 2027 will be a landmark year, led by GTA VI’s release. CEO Strauss Zelnick emphasised his confidence, saying, “I feel good about it. Very good about it,” highlighting that the company is now close to marketing milestones.

GTA VI remains one of the most anticipated games in history...

Mongolian carrier Hunnu Air plans to start direct services to Tashkent in 2026, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Torbold Tserenkhuu confirmed.

The airline also intends to operate new routes to Delhi, as well as destinations in Vietnam and the Philippines, using Embraer E195-E2 jets. Hunnu Air aims to leverage Mongolia’s strategic location to establish the country as a transit hub connecting Central and East Asia.

Founded in 2011, Hunnu Air is based in Ulaanbaatar and currently offers both scheduled and charter flights across Mongolia and other Asian countries.

Kursiv also reports that Iraq is planning to streamline visa...

A new investigation into Swiss bank Credit Suisse has identified 890 previously undisclosed accounts with potential links to Nazi organisations, U.S. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said February 3. The probe aims to shed light on the bank’s role during World War Two.

According to Grassley, the wartime accounts were held by entities including the German Foreign Office, the SS paramilitary group, and a German arms manufacturer. He did not provide details on the amounts held or the current status of the accounts. These organisations were part of the Nazi system that enabled the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of...

Walt Disney has named Josh D’Amaro, the leader of its amusement park business, as its new chief executive.

D’Amaro, a 28-year veteran of Disney, will take over from Bob Iger on March 18.

The appointment places the company’s focus on the division that has provided the most consistent profits in recent years, even as Disney navigates the competitive streaming industry.

The decision concludes a long-running succession question for the entertainment giant. Iger has led Disney for roughly two decades, apart from a brief period that ended in 2022 when his successor was removed and Iger returned to steer the...

K-Pop supergroup BTS announced a Netflix stream of their first performance since their comeback.

The concert is scheduled for March 21 and will take place live from Gwanghwamun Square, one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks.

The event will celebrate the release of their highly anticipated fifth studio album, ARIRANG, set for March 20.

Netflix confirmed the performance will be followed by a documentary titled BTS: The Return on March 27, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the group’s return after completing their military service.

The streaming deal comes alongside announcements of BTS’s new album and a world...