News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects GDP in the Middle East and Central Asia to grow by 3.9% in 2026, according to its latest report.

The fund’s analysts predict the region’s economy will expand by 4% in the coming year. Global economic growth is expected to remain stable at 3.3% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027.

The IMF said the world economy should stay relatively steady as trade challenges are offset by strong investment in new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Global inflation is forecast at 3.8% this year and 3.4% next year.

However, the IMF warned that trade disputes...

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham publicly rejected any possibility of reconciling with his family and accused his parents of orchestrating media attacks against him and his wife.

The eldest son of Sir David and Lady Beckham addressed long-standing speculation regarding a family feud in a series of social media posts. He claimed he had tried to keep the situation private but felt compelled to correct false narratives.

“I do not want to reconcile with my family,” he wrote.

He alleged that his parents and their team have consistently leaked false stories to the press to protect...

Universal Music Group (UMG) solidified its presence in the Chinese market by signing a multi-year distribution agreement with streaming giant NetEase Cloud Music. Announced on January 19, the deal ensures that the catalogues of massive global stars such as Taylor Swift will remain available on the NetEase platform.

The renewed partnership includes specific clauses addressing the growing field of artificial intelligence. Both organisations stated that these terms reflect a mutual dedication to “responsible AI practices” that prioritise the protection of human creativity and the rights of artists represented by UMG.

This collaboration builds upon a previous arrangement established in...

A surfer was bitten by a shark, marking the fourth attack along New South Wales’ coastline in under 48 hours.

The 39-year-old man sustained minor cuts after the shark bit through his board near Crescent Head on January 20 morning. Reports say he is in hospital in stable condition.

The incident follows three other attacks in Sydney over the past two days. Police said all beaches in Sydney’s northern area will remain closed until further notice.

Authorities believe recent heavy rains may have created a «perfect storm environment» for shark attacks, NSW Superintendent Joseph McNulty said. Rain can wash...

Haas have revealed their 2026 Formula 1 challenger in digital renders, showing a bold white-and-red livery a week before Shakedown Week in Barcelona.

The American team again chose an online launch rather than a dedicated event, with the car to be seen on track for the first time in Barcelona.

The team will keep the same driver line-up of Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman for their 11th season, with Ayao Komatsu remaining team principal. The reveal offered an early look at the new 2026 rules, which introduce smaller, lighter cars with engines split 50-50 between fuel and...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Tashkent on January 19 as she made a brief stop in the Uzbek capital.

The talks focused on practical steps to further strengthen the Uzbek-Italian strategic partnership and broaden cooperation across multiple areas.

Both sides welcomed steady progress in implementing agreements reached at the highest level during their meeting in Samarkand in May 2025. Officials noted that contacts remain active at various levels, with trade volumes and the number of joint ventures continuing to grow.

Regional cooperation is also expanding, including with Italy’s Lombardy region...

Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer who founded the luxury house Valentino and helped define modern haute couture, has died at the age of 93, his foundation announced.

Garavani passed away at his home in Rome, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from the Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti. Tributes quickly poured in, led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who described him as an «eternal symbol of Italian high fashion».

Born in northern Italy in 1932, Garavani trained in Paris before opening his fashion house on Rome’s Via Condotti in 1960. He rose to international...

Three senior U.S . Catholic cardinals have urged the Trump administration to adopt a stronger moral framework in its foreign policy, warning that military action, territorial threats and cuts to foreign aid risk causing widespread human suffering rather than promoting peace.

In a rare joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark criticised recent U.S. actions and rhetoric, citing military involvement in Venezuela, threats to acquire Greenland and ongoing positions on Ukraine. They said such moves raised «basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace».

China met its official economic growth target in 2025, supported by strong exports that helped offset weak domestic demand, though slowing quarterly growth has raised concerns about the economy’s underlying momentum.

Official data released on Monday showed the world’s second-largest economy expanded by about 5% last year, in line with the government’s target. However, growth slowed to 4.5% in the final quarter of 2025, the weakest pace since late 2022, down from 4.8% in the previous quarter.

Exports remained the main driver of growth, pushing China’s trade surplus to a record $1.2 trillion, even as shipments to the...

Microsoft has released an emergency fix for Windows 11 after a recent security update triggered widespread problems affecting shutdown functions, remote access and email services.

The issues followed a security update rolled out on 11 January, with users reporting that some Windows 11 systems failed to shut down or hibernate properly, instead rebooting unexpectedly. Other bugs prevented logins via Remote Desktop and caused Microsoft Outlook to crash.

In a statement, Microsoft said it had identified multiple problems linked to the January 2026 security update, noting that the shutdown and hibernation issue affected Windows 11 version 23H2 on devices...

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...