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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that the European Union and India might sign a free trade agreement as early as the end of January, following his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Merz said that the presidents of the European Commission and European Council would travel to India to formalise the agreement if it is finalised by then. During his first trip to India as chancellor, he added:

“In any case, they will take another major step forward to ensure that this free trade agreement comes into being.”

Negotiations had initially...

Global smartphone shipments increased for a second straight year in 2025, posting 2% year-on-year growth, according to Counterpoint Research. The market maintained momentum through the year, supported by a shift toward higher-priced devices, financing options, strong marketing and faster uptake of 5G phones in developing economies.

Counterpoint said consumers continued to trade up to premium models in 2025, while demand for 5G handsets surged across emerging regions. Concerns over tariffs led manufacturers to bring shipments forward in the first half, but their impact proved weaker than expected later in the year, limiting effects on second-half volumes. Growth varied by...

As of December 1, 2025, a total of 15,200 Uzbek citizens had been issued visas to the United States. This is an increase of 1,200 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

Tourism was the main reason for travel, with 10,800 people visiting the U.S. for leisure over the first 11 months of the year. More than 3,700 Uzbek citizens travelled to meet relatives.

Educational trips accounted for 333 visitors, while 307 travelled for business purposes. Twenty-eight citizens went to the United States for medical treatment.

Kursiv also reports that Kyrgyzstan’s...

In 2025 the median offered salary in Uzbekistan reached 5.3 mln soums ($437), a 1.8% decrease compared with the previous year, according to hh.uz.

Across the country’s largest cities, median salaries range from 4.6 to 5.4 mln soums ($379-$445). Tashkent remains the top-paying city with around 5.4 mln soums ($445), despite a slight drop from 2024, maintaining its position as the main centre for high-paying vacancies.

Samarkand ranks second, with median salaries rising to 5 mln soums ($412), the largest increase among major cities, reflecting growing business activity and competition for talent.

Cities with mid-level salaries include Urgench, Andijan and...

A technical delegation from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has arrived in Uzbekistan for a 28-day training and capacity-building programme aimed at enhancing skills in the mining sector.

The group, led by the heads of the Institute of Mines and the Technical Inspection Department, includes 20 technical and professional staff members. The programme features visits to accredited laboratory units, demonstrations of advanced equipment, modern testing techniques and the exchange of practical knowledge.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said the initiative is part of ongoing technical and scientific cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The programme aims to improve...

The Golden Globe Awards were held in Los Angeles, recognising the best achievements in film and television over the past year.

In the film categories, One Battle After Another and Hamnet took top honours, while Netflix’s Adolescence maintained its winning streak in television.

Film winners

Acting awards

Timothee Chalamet was among the standout winners as Hollywood gathered for this year’s Golden Globe Awards, taking a key prize in the run-up to the Oscars.

Chalamet, 30, won best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in the table tennis film Marty Supreme, beating nominees including Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney. The victory marked a significant moment in his continuing pursuit of an Academy Award.

The Golden Globes are seen as an important indicator ahead of the Oscars, and other acting honours on the night went to Teyana Taylor and Stellan Skarsgard.

The ceremony also recognises...

Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday. Tehran warned it could target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump follows through on renewed threats to intervene in support of protesters.

The demonstrations are the largest since 2022 and began on December 28 over soaring prices before turning into broader protests against Iran’s clerical leadership. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 arrests over two weeks. Iran has not released official figures.

Trump...

Gold prices rose above the $4,600 per-ounce mark for the first time on Monday. Silver also climbed to a record high, supported by geopolitical and economic uncertainty and growing expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts.

Spot gold gained 1.3% to $4,469.49 per ounce by 02:03 GMT, after earlier reaching a record $4,600.33. U.S. gold futures for February delivery advanced 2% to $4,591.10. Analysts said geopolitical risks were a key factor driving strong intraday gains in both gold and silver.

Unrest in Iran has added to market concerns, with reports that more than 500 people have been killed. Tehran has...

US President Donald Trump is considering potential military action against Iran as nationwide protests continue to spread across the country, The New York Times reported, citing official sources.

According to the newspaper, Trump has received several new military options in recent days, including scenarios that would involve strikes on non-military targets in Tehran. While no final decision has been made, the administration is treating the proposals seriously, the sources said.

Protests in Iran began on December 28, initially involving traders and students angered by the sharp depreciation of the national currency and rising prices. The unrest intensified...

Uzbekistan plans to welcome up to 100,000 visitors from Malaysia and Indonesia over the next two years as part of its Umrah Plus tourism programme.

The initiative, scheduled for 2026–2027, will combine pilgrimage travel with cultural tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to include Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara in their itineraries.

To attract travellers, the authorities plan to organise celebrations marking Ramadan Hayit and Qurban Hayit, alongside targeted promotional campaigns such as In the Footsteps of Imam Bukhari and Spend Ramadan in Uzbekistan.

Tour operators involved in the programme will receive a $100 subsidy per tourist, while travellers will benefit from discounted access to historical sites, hotels and dining during...

Uzbekistan’s privatised Samarkand Automobile Plant (SamAuto) plans to scale up output and broaden its model range following its acquisition by Turkey’s Anadolu Isuzu, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade said.

The plans were discussed at a meeting between MIIT head Laziz Kudratov and Anadolu Isuzu’s management, where the sides reviewed ongoing cooperation, investment projects, production modernisation, localisation and technology transfer.

In December, Anadolu Isuzu acquired a 75.2% stake in SamAuto for $80m. The investor now intends to launch production of new types of agricultural vehicles and specialised equipment, while expanding the existing product line.

According to the...

Islam Abdurakhmonov has been confirmed as chairman of the board of Uzbekhydroenergo, the company said following an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on January 8. He had served as acting head since December 18 and has now signed a three-year employment contract.

Abdurakhmonov replaces Abdugani Sanginov, who led Uzbekhydroenergo since May 2017 and was recently appointed chairman of Uzbekneftegaz. Local media report that Islam Abdurakhmonov is Sanginov’s son.

The new CEO holds degrees in power engineering and economics. He studied at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute from 2008 to 2012, the Tashkent State Technical University between 2013 and 2015 and the Tashkent State University of Economics from...

The United States carried out large-scale air and ground strikes against ISIS positions in Syria, the US Central Command confirmed. The operations form part of «Operation Hawk Strike,» launched on December 19, 2025 under orders from President Donald Trump.

The military said the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure, aiming to disrupt planning, prevent new attacks, and protect American troops and allied forces in the region.

US forces emphasised that the campaign focuses on degrading ISIS capabilities and limiting the group’s ability to carry out operations in Syria and beyond.

Officials warned that any harm to US personnel will trigger decisive...

Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer and lung issues, his family confirmed on Instagram. «There is no final curtain here, not really. Only the sense of someone setting off again,» the post read, highlighting Weir’s wish for his music and legacy to live on.

Weir’s career spanned more than six decades, beginning with the formation of the Grateful Dead in 1965. The band quickly became a defining force in San Francisco’s counterculture, blending psychedelic rock, folk, and Americana...

Uzbekistan is accelerating its push for greener transport, aiming for electric vehicles (EVs) to make up 10% of the country’s passenger car fleet by 2030. The goal is part of the updated Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, which sets out a five-year roadmap for expanding EV adoption.

Under the plan, electric cars are expected to account for just under 2% of all passenger vehicles in 2026, rising to around 3% in 2027, 5% in 2028, and 7% in 2029. By 2030, one in every ten cars on Uzbek roads could be fully electric, a fivefold increase from current levels.

According to...

Azerbaijan has extradited an Iranian citizen who was on an international wanted list to Uzbekistan, the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

The individual, identified as Imami Ali Abdollah, born in 1970, faced international charges related to fraud. Iranian prosecutors submitted a formal extradition request, which Azerbaijani authorities reviewed and approved.

Law enforcement officers located and detained Abdollah in Azerbaijan in 2025. After completing the required legal procedures, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office authorised his extradition under the October 7, 2002 Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters.

Officials from the Penitentiary...

An Uzbek–Chinese archaeological expedition has uncovered fragments of ancient defensive walls belonging to the Kuva settlement in the Fergana Valley. The structures date from the 3rd century BC to the 10th century AD.

The discovery comes from the joint Luoyang–Fergana expedition. Researchers describe the find as important physical evidence of the development of a Silk Road city and of long-standing connections between East and West.

The Kuva ancient settlement covers about 110,000 square metres in eastern Uzbekistan. In antiquity, the region served as a major Silk Road hub and maintained contacts with China for more than...

Uzbekistan’s economy expanded by an estimated 7.3% in 2025, according to preliminary UN calculations published in the report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026.

The UN expects GDP growth to slow to 6% this year and to 5.9% in 2026. Inflation was estimated at 9% at the end of last year and is forecast to ease to 7.1% in 2026 and 5.6% in 2027.

UN experts said Uzbekistan along with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan continued to benefit from higher gold prices, large-scale infrastructure investment and the expansion of the tourism sector.

Over the first 11 months of last year, Uzbekistan...

Uzbekistan’s Central Bank registered 37 microfinance organisations (MFOs) in 2025 and issued operating licences to four payment organisations, according to the regulator’s annual report.

Over the year, the central bank also registered one microfinance bank and one credit bureau. Twelve auditors received permission to operate in Uzbekistan. The regulator granted 32 approvals for the acquisition of stakes in the charter capital of credit institutions. Most of these approvals were for microfinance organisations at 19, followed by banks with eight and pawnshops with four.

The banking licence of Eurasian Bank was revoked and work is currently under way to liquidate the...

Netflix has partnered with toy maker Hasbro to launch its first «KPop Demon Hunters» collaboration, releasing an official Monopoly Deal card game inspired by the animated film.

The partnership will feature the film’s characters across Hasbro’s board games, plush toys and electronics, including Nerf and Furby products. Hasbro has promised a «range of engaging collaborations designed to delight fans of all ages.»

The licensed card game follows the familiar Monopoly Deal format, with players racing to collect items needed by characters Rumi, Mira and Zoey to make their concert a success and seal the Honmoon. Released on January...

Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann held a solo concert in Tashkent on January 9 that went without the theatrical antics he displayed in Kazakhstan, where he threw fish and pies at the audience, according to RIA Novosti.

The show took place at Axelon Karting Centre, with organisers noting that around half the audience had travelled from abroad, mainly from Russia. Ticket prices started at 1.2 mln soums ($99), with VIP passes costing 4 mln soums ($330). Only adults were admitted.

The venue, with a capacity of 8,000, was around 80% full. During the performance, Lindemann encouraged the audience with shouts...

The European Union (EU) has finalised a free trade deal with South American countries 25 years after talks began, despite opposition from European farmers. The agreement with Mercosur, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, now requires European Parliament approval.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called it a “historic day for multilateralism”. The deal comes amid U.S. tariffs and recent military actions in Venezuela.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would bring “meaningful benefits to consumers and businesses, on both sides”. Critics warn that cheaper imports could harm European farmers producing beef, poultry and...

Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Edil Baysalov, has suggested reviewing the country’s visa-free arrangements with the United States following the introduction of a security deposit for Kyrgyz citizens, posting his remarks on social media platform X.

Baysalov argued that the new rules from the U.S. Department of State violate the principle of reciprocity. «Visa policy is a matter of mutual respect,» he wrote, emphasising that the measure could strain bilateral relations.

Some social media users expressed concern that Washington could respond by suspending visas for Kyrgyz citizens. Others suggested that improving diplomatic relations with the US should be a priority.