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Uzbekistan plans to privatise five state-owned banks under the updated Uzbekistan–2030 strategy published for public discussion. The reform is aimed at reducing the government’s role in the banking sector and increasing market competition.

The state currently owns nine banks, including the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Agrobank, Uzpromstroybank and Asakabank. In 2026 the number of state-owned banks will drop to eight. By 2030 the government plans to retain ownership of only four banks. This means that at least one bank is expected to be privatised each year. A previous version of the strategy adopted in 2023 allowed for three to four banks to remain under state control.

Another...

Russia accused Ukraine on Thursday of killing at least 24 people, including a child, in a drone strike on a hotel and cafe in the Russian-controlled southern Kherson region. Civilians were reportedly celebrating New Year at the time.

The accusation was first made by Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor of the region. Russia’s Foreign Ministry and senior politicians later labelled the attack a «terrorist act».

Saldo said three Ukrainian drones struck the site in the village of Khorly in a «deliberate strike» targeting civilians. Many victims were reportedly burnt alive. According to Russia, 50 people were injured, including six...

Sony has announced the PlayStation Plus games for January 2026, kicking off the new year with Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper. These three titles will be available to all PlayStation Plus members from January 6 through February 2.

PlayStation Plus members still have time to add December’s games to their library until January 5. These include Lego Horizon Adventures, Killing Floor 3, The Outlast Trials, Synduality Echo of Ada, and Neon White.

Need for Speed Unbound, originally released in 2022, leads the pack on PS5. Players can race against time, outsmart the cops...

Uzbekistan will launch high-speed trains on the Tashkent–Urgench–Khiva route starting in 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced. The service will become possible after the electrification of the Bukhara–Khiva section is completed.

By the end of next year, the Miskin–Nukus line will also be electrified, allowing high-speed electric trains to operate. The government aims to increase annual passenger numbers to 23.5 mln by 2030 and expand the number of electric train routes from 40 to 53.

High-speed rail services are also planned for the Andijan, Namangan, Fergana and Surkhandarya regions by 2030, further boosting connectivity across the country.

Kursiv also...

Around 40 people were killed and about 100 others injured after an explosion ripped through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The blast was followed by a fire that broke out at about 1.30 am at a venue called Le Constellation in southwestern Switzerland. Authorities said the cause has not yet been determined but there were no indications of an attack.

«At the moment we are considering this a fire and we are not considering the possibility of an attack,» prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud told a news...

The U.S. government has issued an annual export licence allowing Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) to bring U.S.-made chipmaking equipment into its factory in Nanjing, China.

TSMC said the approval would allow its operations and product deliveries to continue without disruption. Similar licences have also been granted to South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

Previously, these Asian chipmakers operated under exemptions from Washington’s broad restrictions on chip-related exports to China. Those privileges, known as validated end-user status, expired on December 31, requiring the companies to apply for export licences for 2026.

In a statement, TSMC said the U.S. Department...

Netflix experienced a brief disruption for some users on Wednesday evening as the series finale of «Stranger Things» was released. It marked the second technical issue linked to the show’s final season, following problems during the Season 5 premiere in late November.

The streaming service went down at about 5 pm PT, matching the scheduled release time of the finale. The outage lasted roughly a minute and was resolved after users refreshed the platform. Those affected saw an error screen featuring an image from «Nailed It!» with a message apologising for the problem and directing viewers back to the...

Uzbekistan will maintain a zero customs duty on the import of socially important goods until January 1, 2027. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the decree extending the measure.

The policy is aimed at ensuring access to essential products for the population and supporting economic stability. A wide range of everyday goods will continue to be imported without customs duties.

The list includes meat and eggs such as beef, lamb, fish, eggs and processed or canned meat products. Dairy items and fats are also covered, including butter, other milk fats, vegetable and animal oils, margarine, yoghurt, cheese and cottage cheese.

Arden Cho and Ahn Hyo-seop, who voice the romantic leads Rumi and Jinu in «KPop Demon Hunters,» are set to make their first joint interview appearance on «The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.»

The episode will air on January 12 at 11.35 pm ET/PT on NBC and will be available to stream on Peacock the following day. NBC announced the appearance through a teaser shared on social media.

In the video, a young girl hands Fallon a drawing she says she made for him. The sketch features Rumi and Jinu, alongside the actors’ names and the episode date, prompting...

«Zootopia 2» has secured its place in Disney history, becoming the highest-grossing release ever from Walt Disney Animation.

The animated sequel has taken in $1.46 bn worldwide, overtaking «Frozen 2,» which earned $1.45 bn in 2019. Of the total, $333 mln came from North America, while overseas markets delivered $1.13 bn.

The film continued its strong run over the Christmas holiday weekend. In its fifth week in cinemas, it added $87.9 mln globally. It reached the $1 bn mark in just 17 days, making it the fastest PG-rated film to hit that milestone.

China has been a standout market...

As 2025 drew to a close, global K-pop group BTS set off intense online speculation without releasing any music or teasers. Instead, a modest New Year gift to fans proved enough to send ARMY into a frenzy.

On December 30, selected South Korean fans with gold ARMY memberships received a postcard from BTS. While it appeared to be a standard New Year greeting, fans quickly noticed a small detail beneath a newly unveiled logo: the date March 20, 2026.

BTS teases ‘2026.03.20’ in message to membership fans, sparking comeback date speculation. pic.twitter.com/dkR7W316XI

— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster...

The Bangkok South Kwaeng Court delivered the verdict on 26 December, finding that Anne, co-founder of JKN Global Group, misled an investor into purchasing company bonds while concealing the firm’s financial difficulties. The court also imposed fines on the company.

Anne, 46, did not appear in court and remains at large. Thai authorities have issued an arrest warrant, describing her failure to attend hearings as an attempt to evade justice. Local media reports claim she converted large sums of money into cryptocurrency before fleeing Thailand and is believed to be hiding in South America.

The case stems from...

A South Korean writer has shared a positive personal reflection on life in Tashkent, describing her first year in Uzbekistan as an experience that reshaped her views on culture, safety and everyday life.

In an opinion piece published by The Korea Times, Park Gi-hyun writes that she moved to Tashkent nearly a year ago after her husband was assigned to work in Uzbekistan. She admits that before the relocation she knew little about the country or its capital and initially felt anxious about the move.

Her first encounter with Uzbek society came during the flight to Tashkent, where...

A formal handover ceremony took place on 29 December in Hairatan, located in Balkh Province, where humanitarian cargo sent on behalf of the leadership of Uzbekistan was officially transferred to the Afghan side.

The shipment, weighing around 390 tonnes, was assembled at the Termez Cargo Centre and includes food supplies, medicines and medical equipment intended to support the Afghan population during the winter period.

During the inspection, Balkh Province Governor M. Wafo expressed gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for the continued assistance, describing the delivery as a clear demonstration of Uzbekistan’s consistent support for the Afghan people.

Mervyn Kersh, 101, received the honour in recognition of his wartime service and decades spent speaking in schools about Holocaust remembrance. While he said fighting for his country had been «worth it», he expressed concern about rising intolerance.

Kersh, who landed in Normandy aged just 19, said his work with young people has not always had the impact he hoped for.

«What’s disappointing is the antisemitism that I see everywhere, hear everywhere, or read,» he said, adding that society must guard against repeating mistakes made before the Second World War.

Despite his...

Ebo Noah, also known as Ebo Enoch, told followers that a catastrophic global flood forecast for 25 December had been delayed due to «divine mercy». The announcement came amid growing anger over claims that funds raised for building arks were instead spent on a luxury Mercedes-Benz worth about £74,000.

Noah rose to prominence on TikTok after posting videos from Elmina, where he claimed to be constructing arks following a divine vision. His warnings of a three-year flood attracted more than 1.3 mln followers, with believers from Ghana and neighbouring countries donating money and travelling to Elmina in anticipation.

When Christmas...

Authorities said 62 high-end motorcycles, including multiple Ducatis, were confiscated alongside two vehicles, artwork and a pair of Olympic medals during December operations targeting four locations. Images released by the FBI’s Los Angeles division showed rows of premium bikes stored inside a warehouse.

Ryan Wedding, who represented Canada in snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics, is accused by US authorities of running one of the most powerful cocaine trafficking networks supplying Canada. The US Department of Justice claims Wedding oversaw the movement of up to 60,000kg of cocaine annually, working with Mexican cartels and Colombian criminal groups.

The 44-year-old, who...

The car has been designed specifically for Formula 1’s new technical era, which will introduce 50% electrification, sustainable fuels and active aerodynamics. Ferrari engineers are developing a completely new power unit, featuring an aluminium alloy cylinder head and a closely guarded intake system, alongside a return to pushrod suspension at both the front and rear for the first time since 2010.

Ferrari plans a two-stage approach to pre-season testing. An initial version of Project 678 will run in late January, focusing on reliability and system checks, before a more advanced B-spec car appears during February testing in Bahrain...

Hundreds of students rallied for a third consecutive day at four universities in Tehran, joining shopkeepers who blocked roads and chanted slogans against economic hardship. Some demonstrators voiced support for Reza Shah, the founder of Iran’s former royal dynasty, while social media posts described frustration over inflation and corruption reaching a «breaking point».

In an unusual move, the government said it would seek dialogue with protest organisers.

«We officially recognise the protests,» said government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, acknowledging pressure on household livelihoods.

President Masoud Pezeshkian told trade unions and market representatives...

Uzbekistan’s foreign policy in 2025 looked less like classic «summit diplomacy» and more like a steady campaign to be present in other countries through culture, tourism promotion, technology partnerships and education links. This was not only about image. It was also a practical effort to build trust with investors, expand exports, attract visitors, connect the diaspora and position Uzbekistan as a serious partner in a competitive global economy.

Below are the clearest patterns from 2025, based solely on publicly verifiable events and official or primary sources.

London became a flagship stage for cultural diplomacy and business promotion

Culture as...

The overnight operation hit two ships carrying weapons and combat vehicles intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), according to the Saudi state news agency SPA. Riyadh said the strike was conducted at night to minimise collateral damage and described the UAE-backed activity as a threat to regional security.

The attack has sharply escalated tensions between the two Gulf allies, which back rival factions in Yemen’s civil war. Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised Yemeni government, while the UAE backs the STC, which is seeking independence for the former state of South Yemen.

In response, Yemen’s government declared...

All eight Harry Potter films, along with the Fantastic Beasts spin-off trilogy, are set to disappear from Netflix on New Year’s Eve, ending a two-year run that began in 2023. Subscribers have been greeted with «leaving soon» notices across the franchise, triggering widespread frustration on social media.

Viewers will lose access to every instalment, from Philosopher’s Stone through to Deathly Hallows – Part 2, as well as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore. Some users have even threatened to cancel their subscriptions following the removals.

The Harry Potter...

Authorities from Sydney to Paris and Tokyo have moved to scrap concerts and public countdowns following warnings of potential terror threats and crowd safety risks. The cancellations come after the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it had foiled an alleged New Year’s Eve bombing plot near Los Angeles, arresting four suspects during what prosecutors described as a rehearsal in the Mojave Desert.

In Australia, officials cancelled New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach, citing public safety concerns and heightened sensitivity following a recent deadly shooting. In Paris, a large music concert planned for the Champs-Elysees was called off after police...

Bandar Apna Dost, which publishes short, AI-produced clips paired with simple storytelling, has amassed more than 2 bn views, making it the most-watched channel globally in the so-called «AI slop» category. Analysts estimate the channel generates around ₹37 crore a year, equivalent to more than $4.25mln, placing it among the most profitable AI-driven creators on the platform.

The rise of Bandar Apna Dost reflects a broader surge in automated content on YouTube. Research by Kapwing suggests that more than 20% of videos recommended to new YouTube Shorts users are either fully or partially AI-generated, underlining how widespread the...