News

The United States seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. They include one tanker sailing under Russian flag, as Washington intensified efforts to control oil shipments connected to Caracas.

The move followed the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a U.S. military operation and marked a further escalation in enforcement against vessels operating under sanctions.

Sanctions enforcement

U.S. officials said a weeks-long pursuit ended when the Coast Guard and U.S. special forces boarded the Marinera crude tanker after it refused inspection last month and later reflagged under Russia’s registry...

Iran’s army chief has warned that Tehran could take pre-emptive military action in response to what it views as escalating threats from abroad, as mass protests driven by economic hardship continue across the country.

Major General Amir Hatami said the Islamic Republic would not tolerate «rhetoric» targeting Iran, comments widely interpreted as a response to warnings issued last week by Donald Trump, who said the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities continued killing peaceful protesters.

Speaking to military academy students in Tehran, Hatami said Iran’s armed forces were more prepared than ever and promised a «decisive response...

Fans of Stranger Things are divided over a viral theory claiming the show’s finale was not the real ending — and that a secret final episode could still be released.

The series concluded after five seasons on New Year’s Day, but a segment of viewers believe the closing epilogue was an illusion created by the villain Vecna, portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower. The theory, dubbed Conformity Gate, has gained traction on TikTok, with fans scrutinising background details and alleged continuity errors for hidden clues.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Campbell Bower appeared to dismiss the...

Several dozen snow-covered tents have appeared on streets in the historic centre of Paris, as hundreds of young African migrants endure freezing winter nights without permanent shelter.

Around 300 unaccompanied migrants, many from Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali, are currently sleeping outdoors as they seek official recognition as minors. For many, it is their first experience of homelessness, and of winter cold, since arriving in France. «There’s no choice but to keep going,» said 16-year-old Boubacar Camara from Guinea, sheltering in a tent near Pont Marie.

During the day, some find temporary refuge at facilities such as the...

Lewis Hamilton has marked his 41st birthday, with fans around the world paying tribute to one of the most successful and recognisable figures in Formula One.

The seven-time world champion endured a challenging debut season with Scuderia Ferrari after his high-profile move from Mercedes-AMG Petronas, finishing sixth in the drivers’ standings. Despite the difficulties, Hamilton remains among the sport’s biggest stars.

Off the track, Hamilton has long attracted public interest. He previously dated singer Nicole Scherzinger for nearly eight years before the couple split in 2015. Since then, his private life has largely remained out of the spotlight...

The killing of schoolgirl Elianne Andam by teenager Hassan Sentamu has been cited as one of the real-life cases that influenced Netflix’s acclaimed drama Adolescence, which explores how teenage anger, misogyny and online radicalisation can escalate into deadly violence.

Sentamu, then 17, stabbed Andam to death at a bus stop in Croydon in September 2023 after becoming enraged during a dispute involving his former girlfriend and her friends. The attack took place before school and was witnessed by members of the public.

In March 2025, Sentamu was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve a minimum of...

Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, has reportedly left California amid growing momentum for a proposed wealth tax targeting billionaires.

According to filings cited by Business Insider, Page has transferred the registration of several entities, including his family office and a flying car venture, from California to Delaware. He has also personally moved out of the state ahead of a possible vote on a one-off 5% wealth tax on assets exceeding $1 bn.

The proposal, backed by a healthcare union, could be put to a public referendum in November and would apply retroactively from January 1, 2026. California...

U.S. energy major Chevron has teamed up with private investment group Quantum Energy Partners to take part in a bidding process for Lukoil’s overseas assets, valued at about $22 bn, the Financial Times reports.

If the deal succeeds, Chevron and Quantum plan to divide the acquired assets between them. Chevron has previously explored the possibility of buying Lukoil’s foreign operations, while Saudi firm Midad Energy is also considered a potential bidder.

Lukoil’s decision to sell its international assets follows sanctions imposed by the US Treasury in October 2025. In Uzbekistan, the Russian company is involved in gas production...

Uzbekistan’s total investment in 2025 reached $43.1 bn, a 24% increase compared with 2024, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade reports.

Foreign direct investment made up the bulk, totalling $38.2 bn, while $4.9 bn came from international financial institutions. Key partners included China, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The entry of major companies such as Volkswagen, Alshaya Group and Franklin Templeton reflected growing confidence in the Uzbek market. Citi and Japan’s Sojitz also began operations in the country.

Other new entrants included Cleveland Clinic, the agricultural firm Aviagen and manufacturer

Sebastian Stan is reportedly in talks to join Robert Pattinson in DC Studios’ upcoming film, «The Batman Part II.» The Oscar-nominated actor, known for his role as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in Marvel films, could appear as either an ally or adversary to Bruce Wayne, though his character has not yet been revealed.

The sequel, directed by Matt Reeves, is expected to start filming next spring ahead of an October 2027 release from Warner Bros. The first film, «The Batman,» premiered in March 2022 and earned $772 mln worldwide.

«The Batman Part II,» written by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin, recently...

Afghanistan’s trade held steady in 2025 with the aid of supply routes through Iran and Central Asian nations, which offset disruptions on the Pakistani route, Reuters reports.

Exporters and importers in Afghanistan adapted their logistics amid tensions with Pakistan, turning to the Iranian port of Chabahar and overland routes through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Total foreign trade for 2025 reached nearly $13.9 bn, with exports accounting for about $1.8 bn and imports $12.1 bn.

India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries remained the main markets for Afghan goods. Key exports included dried fruits, coal, carpets, saffron and other agricultural products.

The White House said President Donald Trump and his advisers are discussing a range of options to pursue Greenland, a semi‑autonomous territory of Denmark. The statement described acquiring the island as a «national security priority» and noted that using the US military is always an option available to the Commander-in-Chief.

The announcement followed a joint statement from European leaders supporting Denmark, emphasising that Greenland belongs to its people and that any decisions regarding its future must be made by Denmark and Greenland alone. They also said Arctic security should be pursued collectively through NATO allies and that the...

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...