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US President-elect Donald Trump is determined to acquire Greenland to expand Washington’s sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere, Reuters reports.

Previously, Trump did not rule out the possibility of forcibly taking control of Greenland, which baffled European nations.

During his first presidency, Trump also discussed buying Greenland. However, his recent comments about the island highlight that this is a deeply rooted ambition, not a passing fancy, according to Reuters.

One of the agency’s sources stated that the future president will not use force to seize Greenland. Instead of a military solution, he plans to apply economic and...

Uzbekistan’s Anti-Corruption Agency annulled 234 illegal state procurements in 2024, totalling UZS 263.9 bn. This was reported by the agency’s press service.

A total of 273 procurements, valued at UZS 552.5 bn, were reviewed over the year.

The agency also issued 257 recommendations to ministries and departments, while 273 requests were sent to law enforcement agencies.

Currently, efforts are underway to hold 104 individuals administratively accountable. Another 85 individuals may face disciplinary actions.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan has approved a strategy for developing the state procurement system through 2027.

The document includes initiatives for expanding the...

The Business Ombudsman of Uzbekistan received over 9,100 complaints in 2024, according to spokesperson Guljamol Shukurova. Tax issues account for 12% of these cases while 11% involve cadastral matters. Common concerns also include banking, loans, and business inspections.

The ombudsman resolves 51% of all complaints providing legal guidance in other cases.

The Virtual Entrepreneur’s Office receives an additional 10,400 inquiries. Of these:

As a result of these appeals, businesses secure:

Uzbek citizens wishing to work abroad will receive training at home, according to the draft state programme for 2025.

The training will be organised in cooperation with the host countries. Uzbek nationals will undergo language courses and professional training, with a focus on women and youth.

In addition, in 2025, Uzbekistan plans to support the deployment of labour migrants through organised recruitment programmes. To achieve this, the country intends to sign agreements with foreign employers and recruitment agencies.

The goal of these efforts is to diversify labour migration.

Uzbekistan plans to introduce new international bus routes to Russia, China, and Central Asian countries, the Ministry of Transport reports.

The ministry intends to collaborate with domestic and foreign transport operators to achieve this.

According to the ministry’s plans, new bus services to Kazakhstan will connect Bukhara with Turkestan, Urgench with Aktau, and Fergana with Almaty (via Tajikistan).

The ministry is also encouraging businesses to establish passenger transport services to Kyrgyzstan’s cities. Proposed routes include Andijan to Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Arslanbob; Kasansay to Jalal-Abad; and Bukhara to Bishkek.

Direct routes from Samarkand and Bukhara to Dushanbe will also be...

Uzbekistan plans to increase investments in the industrial sector’s fixed capital by 6.1% in 2025, according to the country’s state programme.

The authorities also aim to boost investments in agriculture and construction by 4.1% and 14.2%, respectively.

Measures will be introduced to ensure an annual inflation rate not exceeding 7-8% of GDP. The consolidated budget deficit is expected to remain below 3% of GDP.

Exports of goods and services are projected to rise by 15% in 2025.

By August of this year, the readiness of banks and major enterprises to implement ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles will be...

Uzbekistan plans to develop a national programme for green financing by December 1, 2025, according to a draft presidential decree by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The programme will include the establishment of procedures for assessing national green economy projects. During the country’s Year of Environmental Protection, Uzbekistan aims to legislate principles of green, climate, and sustainable financing.

Additionally, all public-private partnership projects exceeding $10 mn will undergo checks for compliance with green components and sustainable development principles. These initiatives will be integrated with the international Source platform and the PIERS evaluation system.

In 2025, Uzbekistan aims to secure around...

Uzbekistan plans to establish close cooperation with the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, according to the draft state programme for 2025.

Tashkent also aims to hold the first round of a strategic dialogue with the United States this year and enhance cooperation under the “C5+1” format, which includes Uzbekistan, the US, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The 10th “C5+1” summit is expected to take place in Samarkand, alongside a planned ministerial meeting.

Other initiatives include expanding cooperation with the US in security, science, and education.

From January to November 2024, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the US reached...

As of January 8, the US dollar has increased by UZS 14.88, reaching UZS 12,962.98 on the Uzbekistan currency exchange, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan reports.

In banks, the dollar is bought for UZS 12,885–12,925 and sold for UZS 12,950–13,010.

It is worth noting that on January 6, some banks were selling the dollar for as much as UZS 13,000.

US President-elect Donald Trump has left open the possibility of using force to secure the Panama Canal and Greenland, according to Euronews.

During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence, Trump emphasised that controlling these territories is critical to ensuring the national security of the United States. He argued that it is the only way to protect the “free world” from growing threats posed by Russia and China.

As a result, Trump indicated he would consider a range of actions, from economic sanctions to direct military intervention, to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.

Trump also questioned...

Uzbekistan’s gold and foreign currency reserves reached $41.18 bn in 2024, which is a 19.1% increase compared to 2023, according to data from the country’s Central Bank.

Foreign currency assets amounted to $8.6 bn. Of this amount, $8.1 bn was held in international commercial banks. Another $351 mn was held in foreign central banks and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The volume of gold in the country’s reserves reached 12.3 mn troy ounces having increased by 3.36% over the year. In monetary terms, this figure grew from $24.6 bn to $32 bn.

At the same time, various foreign currency...

Ann Altman, the younger sister of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has filed a lawsuit against him, accusing him of sexual abuse, Business Insider reports.

In the lawsuit, Ann alleges that Sam Altman subjected her to abuse from the age of three, with incidents occurring throughout the 1990s and 2000s. She claims these experiences led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical injuries. Ann is seeking compensation of more than $75,000 and reimbursement for legal costs.

Later, Sam Altman posted a denial letter signed by his mother, Connie, and his younger brothers, Max and Jack.

«Our family loves Annie and...

In the coming years, Russia may increase its gas supplies to Central Asian countries to 12-15 bn cubic metres per year, as reported by TASS, citing Sergey Kaufman, an analyst at Finam.

To boost fuel supplies Moscow, Astana, and Tashkent are working to increase the capacity of the Central Asia-Centre gas pipeline, added Alexey Grivach, Deputy Head of the Russian Energy Security Fund.

Grivach believes that after modernisation, the pipeline’s capacity to Central Asia will rise to 10-12 bn cubic metres per year.

Russia is considering the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline through Mongolia and...

Uzbekistan developed a strategy for managing spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. This announcement was made by Azim Akhmedkhadjaev, the head of Uzatom, in an interview with Trend.az.

The document is currently being coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies, he added.

Akhmedkhadjaev emphasised that the small nuclear power plant under construction in Uzbekistan will use local raw materials as fuel. This will help reduce the cost of electricity generation.

The head of “Uzatom” also noted that agrometeorological monitoring of underground water is being carried out at the site of the power plant construction, based on recommendations from the IAEA...

As of January 7 petrol reserves at Uzbekneftegaz facilities reached 60,000 tonnes, marking a fourfold increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to company representative Gulkhayo Ergasheva.

In December 2024, the company put 130,400 tonnes of petrol up for sale, including 94,700 tonnes of AI-80 petrol.

On December 10 sales volumes doubled reaching 3,600–4,000 tonnes. Between December 11 and December 18, sales quadrupled as the company allocated 8,000 tonnes of petrol for distribution.

According to company data, in November 2024 Uzbekneftegaz sold 1,800 to 2,000 tonnes of AI-80 petrol daily on the exchange.

The company also noted that...

Turkey may conduct a military operation against the Kurds in Syria if they fail to meet Ankara’s demands, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated in an interview with CNN Türk.

Ankara demanded that the leaders of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (YPG) leave Syria. The remaining members of the organisation must disarm and cooperate with the newly established authorities.

«This is a bloodless and peaceful transition. On the other hand, Syrian Kurds who are not members of the YPG should integrate and lead normal lives without any harm to their lives or property,» Fidan emphasised.

The foreign minister also assured that...

In 2024, the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine (NMMC) produced goods valued at UZS 93.9 trln, marking a 39% y/y increase. This announcement comes from the company’s press service.

Over the past year NMMC boosted its contributions to the state budget through taxes, fees, and dividends by 54%, reaching UZS 57.5 trln. The company also attracted $790 mn in investments, a 67% increase compared to 2023.

Cost optimisation measures allowed NMMC to reduce production costs by UZS 3.7 trln. Additionally, the company increased production under its localisation programme by 45%, reaching UZS 916 bn.

NMMC’s performance in...

A team of scientists from Uzbekistan and Russia developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of detecting street violence through CCTV footage. The announcement was made by TASS citing South Ural State University (SUSU).

The AI system can identify over 98% of street violence incidents by leveraging multi-valued logic. SUSU’s press service noted that AI systems without this technology were previously unable to process large volumes of data efficiently.

The researchers expect this AI system to be integrated into Smart City infrastructures.

Founded in 1943 SUSU comprises 15 academic schools, institutes, and branches across Russia. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for...

Cryptobanks may soon be established in Kyrgyzstan, according to the Tazabek publication.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce initiated a bill for their creation, which was sent to the parliament for consideration late last year.

These cryptobanks will provide services related to virtual assets under a licensing system. They will be able to attract deposits in cryptocurrency and engage in digital asset transactions through contracts. Additionally, customers will have the opportunity to open crypto accounts and access various other services.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the National Agency for Perspective Projects has permitted Heemera to enter the cryptocurrency...

In Tashkent, passengers who pay for bus fare in cash will face fines, according to Allayor Norbotaev, the deputy head of the capital’s transport department.

The fine will be set at 1/10 of the basic calculation value of 37,500 soums. If a passenger is caught violating this rule for the first time, they will receive a warning.

It is important to note that cashless payments for public transport were introduced in January 2025 by the decision of the Tashkent Mayor. To pay for a journey, passengers must use a bank or a transport card or purchase disposable tickets with...

Uzbekistan imported 68,600 passenger cars and electric vehicles, totalling $1.1 bn, from January to November 2024, according to the Uzbek Statistics Agency.

The majority of these vehicles were purchased from China (55,700 units), followed by South Korea (11,200 units) and the United States (633 units). Additionally, 577 cars were imported from India and 152 from Japan.

As of early December of the previous year, Uzbekistan had produced 382,300 passenger cars, reflecting an annual growth of 1.6%.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Cobalt Midnight will be launched soon.

Photo: Depositphotos

According to the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Uzbek boxer Shahram Giyasov has apologised for his involvement in a bout with a bear at the Buka Gym sports club. He has been fined three basic calculation units, amounting to 1.1 mln sums.

Giyasov was also summoned to the ministry, where he received a warning about the unacceptable treatment of animals and the regulations governing their captivity.

A scandalous video of the fight with the bear surfaced online at the end of December, leading to widespread anger among many Uzbeks. The Uzbek Environment Ministry...

According to a draft law approved by the Oliy Majlis, the state will support Uzbek agricultural producers in suring against animal and plant diseases and natural disasters.

This document lays out the rules for insuring agricultural risks and establishes the creation of an Agricultural Insurance Fund in the republic.

The state will offer subsidies to farmers to help them pay insurance premiums and receive compensation for losses.

The deputies have also backed the complete digitalisation of the insurance process and the state’s industry regulation. This bill aims to create a unified insurance system for agricultural products and foster favourable...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan purchased nine tonnes of gold by the end of November 2024, according to statistics from the World Gold Council (WGC).

Over the first 11 months of the year, the Central Bank bought a total of 11 tonnes of gold, increasing the nation’s gold reserves to 382 tonnes.

Based on WGC’s November data, the largest gold buyer globally was the Polish Central Bank, which acquired 21 tonnes. Uzbekistan ranked second, followed by the Reserve Bank of India, which purchased eight tonnes.

In total, global central banks bought 53 tonnes of gold in November, as reported...