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Aldrich Ames, the former CIA counterintelligence officer whose spying for the Soviet Union and Russia caused some of the worst intelligence breaches in US history, has died aged 84. He passed away on Monday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland.

Career of espionage

Ames was sentenced to life without parole on April 28, 1994 after admitting he sold classified information to the KGB, compromising over 100 operations and revealing the identities of more than 30 Western agents. At least 10 of those spies were later killed.

He began providing informattion to the other side in April...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is backing the expansion of Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical industry by providing a loan of up to $20 mln to leading local manufacturer Nika Pharm. The funding will be used to restructure the company’s balance sheet and upgrade equipment and facilities to increase production capacity, enhance product quality, and achieve full compliance with the World Health Organisation’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

Nika Pharm, an EBRD client since 2021, produces tablets, capsules, sachets and nasal sprays for common colds, gastroenterology, paediatrics and urology. The company has become a leader in segments such as...

Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry has refuted reports circulating in media and social networks suggesting that the use of the Uzbek language in Afghanistan is being restricted. The statement was published on the ministry’s official Telegram channel.

«The Afghan authorities have strongly emphasised that these reports are false and that there are no limitations on the use of the Uzbek language in the country,» the ministry said.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry highlighted that the facades of universities and schools across the country are being updated, with inscriptions in three languages — Pashto, Dari, and English. In northern...

Venezuela will export up to $2 bn worth of crude oil to the United States, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday. The deal is intended to redirect shipments from China while helping Caracas maintain production levels amid U.S. sanctions.

Trump said the move signals that Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez is complying with his demand to open the nation’s oil industry to U.S. companies. The South American country currently has millions of barrels stuck on tankers and in storage due to a blockade imposed by Washington in mid-December.

Chevron to manage exports

The U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will...

Nestle Food LLC has announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of infant nutrition products in Uzbekistan as a precautionary measure. The company cited a potential safety risk linked to a raw ingredient supplied by a third party.

The recall affects specific batches of powdered instant milk and fermented milk formulas, as well as an amino acid-based medical nutrition product sold under the NAN and ALFARÉ brands. According to the company, the action forms part of a wider global recall of certain infant nutrition products initiated by Nestle.

Possible toxin linked to raw material supplier

Nestle said...

Brigitte Bardot, the French film star and cultural icon who died last month aged 91, will be buried on Wednesday in the Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez, where she spent much of her later life.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10:00 GMT at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church, after which Bardot will be laid to rest in strict privacy at a local cemetery. A public tribute for residents and admirers will be held at the Pré des Pêcheurs area in La Ponche, the historic heart of the former fishing village.

Bardot rose to global fame in her early 20s with...

Speculation around the future of Gianpiero Lambiase has grown in recent months, with questions raised over his role at Red Bull beyond the end of last season. Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, sources told that discussions over his position in 2026 would take place during the winter, influenced by personal circumstances.

Those factors also explain why Lambiase missed the Austrian and Belgian grands prix and why he showed visible emotion after the final race of a demanding campaign. He has since been linked with rival teams, including Aston Martin and Williams, reflecting his strong reputation within Formula 1.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has a contingency plan to flee the country for Russia if nationwide protests overwhelm Iran’s security forces, according to a report citing intelligence sources.

At least 35 people have been killed and more than 1,200 detained during a week of unrest, the Human Rights Activists News Agency said, adding that four children were among the dead. The demonstrations, initially driven by the collapse of Iran’s currency, have increasingly included calls for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.

An intelligence source told The Times that the 86-year-old leader would leave Tehran with up...

China has banned the export of dual-use goods that could have military applications to Japan, citing national security concerns amid escalating tensions over Taiwan.

In a statement released Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the restrictions apply to products that can serve both civilian and military purposes and are intended for Japanese military users or other end-users that could enhance Japan’s military capabilities. Any individuals or organisations found violating the ban would face legal consequences, regardless of nationality.

The ministry did not specify which items are affected, but analysts note that certain technology exports, including drones and navigation systems, could...

A far-right dating platform dubbed «Tinder for Nazis» was dramatically taken offline after a hacktivist infiltrated it live on stage while dressed as a pink Power Ranger.

The stunt was carried out by Martha Root, who targeted WhiteDate during a live presentation at a hacker convention in Hamburg last week. Broadcasting the operation in real time, Root accessed the site’s systems, extracted around 100GB of data and published roughly 8,000 user profiles online.

WhiteDate marketed itself as a «dating platform for white people with traditional European values» and positioned the service as a reaction against what it described...

LG Electronics has introduced CLOiD, a humanoid, AI-powered home robot designed to handle everyday household chores, during its keynote presentation at Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in Las Vegas.

The robot is built to integrate with LG’s smart home ecosystem and uses artificial intelligence to learn users’ routines, helping with tasks such as cooking support, laundry handling and dishwashing. According to LG, the goal is to reduce domestic workloads and move towards what it calls a «zero labour home».

CLOiD features a curved head unit that acts as its control centre, animated with expressive digital eyes. Equipped with cameras...

While chipmakers delivered major announcements, much of the public attention focused on robots, sci-fi franchises and interactive gadgets. At the heart of the buzz was Nvidia, whose chief executive Jensen Huang introduced what the firm calls «physical AI» — systems trained in virtual environments before being deployed in real-world machines. Huang showcased new AI models, a next-generation superchip platform and drew applause by inviting two small robots onto the stage.

Rival chipmakers also made headlines. AMD unveiled new Ryzen AI processors for personal computers and gaming, while Intel introduced its Panther Lake AI chip for laptops and outlined...

Sergio Perez has opened up about his time at Red Bull and the challenges of racing alongside four-time champion Max Verstappen.

The Mexican driver joined Red Bull in 2021 after stints with Force India, Racing Point, McLaren and Sauber. He initially performed well, finishing fourth in the drivers’ championship in 2021, third in 2022 and second in 2023. However, he struggled as the car became increasingly tailored to Verstappen, leaving him eighth in 2024. Perez was replaced for 2025 by rookie Liam Lawson, who was then replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. For 2026, Isack Hadjar takes the seat.

The United States could attempt to assert control over Greenland in the coming months, according to sources cited by Politico. Washington may time such moves to coincide with the midterm congressional elections in November or the U.S.’s 250th Independence Day on July 4.

Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of Eurasia Group’s European division, told the publication that the U.S. is likely to pursue a different approach than in Venezuela. He suggested Washington could launch a political influence campaign to shift the current balance of power.

Rahman did not rule out the possibility of bribing local politicians to expand U.S. military...

Uzbek chess grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has secured a spot in the FIDE Candidates Tournament, which will be held at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Cyprus.

Sindarov earned his place through a strong showing at the 2025 Chess World Cup. He will compete alongside Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Matthias Bluebaum, Wei Yi, Andrey Esipenko and Hikaru Nakamura. Participants qualified via the FIDE Circuit, the Grand Swiss tournament and world rankings.

In the women’s section, top players include Zhu Jiner, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Divya Deshmukh, Humpy Koneru, Tan Zhongyi, Vaishali R., Kateryna Lagno and Bibisara Assaubayeva. Qualification was...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice has registered a resolution setting out the criteria for organisations deemed to be of public significance. The category includes stock exchanges, banks and microfinance institutions.

The status also applies to companies whose shares are publicly traded, factoring firms, mortgage organisations and payment systems. Enterprises with state participation are included as well, provided their assets exceed 1 million base calculation units and their annual net income is above the same threshold.

The list further covers organisations that meet at least one of the criteria over a two-year period, including assets of no less than 1 million...

Uzbekistan national team striker Igor Sergeev will continue his career in Iran after signing a contract with Tehran-based club Persepolis, the team announced.

«Igor Sergeev is with us. Welcome to Persepolis,» the club’s press office wrote.

The 32-year-old had a standout season in the Uzbekistan Super League with Pakhtakor, scoring 20 goals and providing three assists in 29 matches. According to Transfermarkt, Sergeev was named the country’s best player in 2025, with an estimated market value of $1.2 mln.

Sergeev previously played in Kazakhstan from 2021 to 2023 for Aktobe and Tobol, winning a...

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are set to begin testing a multimodal transport corridor that will connect Central Asia with China and Europe, Anadolu Agency reports.

The pilot project will start with a convoy of ten loaded trucks travelling from Uzbekistan, through Tajikistan, to China. The initiative was agreed by the transport ministers of both countries, who committed to jointly opening the Chinese route and introducing electronic permits for international shipments.

Plans are also in place to expand the capacity of the Dzhartepa–Sarazm border crossing. A logistics centre will be built at the border to handle up to 100 trucks per...

Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy human-like robots in its factories starting in 2028, as companies worldwide compete to adopt the technology, BBC reports.

The South Korean automaker showcased Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday. Hyundai said it «plans to integrate Atlas across its global network», including a plant in Georgia, which was the site of a large immigration raid in 2025.

Other firms adopting humanoid robots include Amazon, Tesla and Chinese carmaker BYD. Hyundai said Atlas will gradually take on more tasks. The company owns...

Arab investment fund No Limits Sport is assessing the potential purchase of football clubs in Uzbekistan, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan, Vadim Andreev, head of the organisation’s Eurasian operations, told TASS.

«We plan to analyse 10 to 12 clubs soon and prepare a detailed report for the fund’s investors to identify the most promising opportunities in terms of asset growth and return on investment,» Andreev said.

The fund has already expressed interest in acquiring Russian club Rotor, which currently competes in the First League. As of January 5, Rotor is in seventh place, with...

Con Pederson, one of four special effects supervisors on Stanley Kubrick’s landmark film 2001: A Space Odyssey, died on December 2 at the Motion Picture and Television Fund residence in Woodland Hills after complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 91.

Pederson was a central figure in the creation of the 1968 science fiction classic, working alongside Douglas Trumbull, Wally Veevers and Tom Howard. Their collective efforts earned Kubrick the Academy Award for best visual effects in 1969.

On set, Pederson ran what was known as the war room, where visual effects shots were designed, scheduled, tracked and assessed. Each...

Uzbek citizens who report corruption will be eligible to receive protection orders under a presidential decree, the Justice Ministry says.

To encourage public participation in preventing and combating corruption, authorities have also introduced a special badge to recognise citizens who assist in such efforts.

In addition, a digital information and software system known as Digital Compliance will be launched on a trial basis from July 1. The platform will move internal oversight procedures into a digital format through the E-Compliance module.

Internal control units within central government bodies will be empowered to issue mandatory compliance notices aimed at preventing...

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to U.S. narcotics charges, hours after his capture by American forces sent shockwaves through Caracas and beyond.

Speaking through an interpreter in a Manhattan federal court, the 63-year-old said he was innocent and insisted he remained Venezuela’s president before a judge cut him short. His wife Cilia Flores also entered a not guilty plea. The next hearing was scheduled for March 17. Supporters and opponents of Maduro gathered outside the courthouse during the brief proceedings.

Maduro, who said he had been kidnapped, listened to the charges through headphones...

Just days after the sci-fi phenomenon reached its emotional finale, Netflix revealed One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, a feature-length documentary set to premiere globally on 12 January. The film will chronicle the creation of the show’s fifth and final season.

The documentary promises unprecedented access to the cast, creators and crew of Stranger Things, charting the years of work that went into concluding the Duffer Brothers’ generation-defining story. The series finale aired on New Year’s Eve, closing a decade-long journey that began in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.

Directed by Martina Radwan, the...