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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have reaffirmed their commitment to increasing bilateral trade to $2 bn, following high-level talks in Islamabad.

A formal reception ceremony was held at the Prime Minister’s House in honour of the visiting Uzbek leader. The two sides held one-on-one discussions, followed by delegation-level talks focusing on trade, investment, regional connectivity, education and cultural exchanges.

Both leaders described their historical, religious and cultural ties as a strong foundation for deeper cooperation. They welcomed the activation of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and pledged to enhance collaboration across multiple sectors.

The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway...

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov, has rejected claims that the personal data of 15 mln citizens was leaked from government systems, calling the figure unconfirmed and exaggerated.

The allegations surfaced earlier this month after online discussions and posts on Reddit suggested that databases linked to Uzbek state institutions were circulating on darknet platforms. Some users claimed the breach involved data relating to up to 15 million people, sparking widespread concern on social media.

Speaking at a press conference on February 12 at the Ministry of Digital Technologies, Shermatov said authorized bodies had launched an immediate technical...

Syria and Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and expanding bilateral trade ties.

The agreement was signed in Tashkent by the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan. The MoU provides for the organisation of joint business forums, support for companies participating in trade exhibitions, and enhanced cooperation in commercial arbitration. It also includes measures to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Officials from both sides described the deal as an important step toward deepening economic partnership and creating new opportunities for trade...

Pakistan offspinner Usman Tariq has emerged as one of the most talked-about players at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with his unusual bowling action drawing both praise and controversy.

The 28-year-old made an immediate impact in Sri Lanka, claiming three wickets against the United States in his tournament debut. His distinctive delivery, marked by a prolonged pause at the crease and a sling-like release, has unsettled batters and fuelled debate over its legality.

Critics have questioned whether Tariq exceeds the International Cricket Council’s 15-degree elbow flex limit, the threshold used to judge illegal bowling actions, commonly referred...

Italy claimed their first-ever win at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 10-wicket triumph over Nepal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest target of 124, Italy completed the run chase in just 12.4 overs without losing a wicket. Openers Anthony Mosca and Justin Mosca produced an unbeaten 124-run partnership to seal a landmark victory.

Anthony Mosca struck a rapid 62 off 32 balls, hitting three fours and six sixes, while Justin Mosca added a composed 60 from 44 deliveries, including five boundaries and three sixes, as Italy dominated Nepal’s bowling attack.

Earlier...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said transatlantic relations face a «defining moment» as global leaders gathered for the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

Speaking ahead of the conference in Munich, Rubio acknowledged rapid geopolitical change but struck a notably warmer tone toward European allies after a turbulent year marked by tensions between Washington and its partners.

«The world is changing very fast right in front of us,» Rubio said. «The Old World is gone… and we live in a new era in geopolitics.»

He added that the United States remains «deeply tied to...

World leaders gathering at the Munich Security Conference were met with a stark warning from this year’s Munich Security Report, which criticises US President Donald Trump and cautions that the post-1945 international order is being dismantled.

The 123-page report, titled Under Destruction, argues that the world has entered an era of «wrecking-ball politics,» with sweeping disruption replacing gradual reform. It describes the United States, long seen as the architect of the global system established after the Second World War, as now being at the forefront of tearing it down.

While Trump has recently boasted of presiding over the...

U.S. artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has secured $30bn in fresh funding, more than doubling its valuation to $380bn in one of the largest private fundraising rounds on record.

The company, best known for its Claude chatbot, was valued at $183bn as recently as September. The latest round was led by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC and hedge fund Coatue Management, underscoring surging investor appetite for advanced AI models.

Anthropic said its annualised revenue has reached $14bn, growing more than tenfold in each of the past three years. A key driver has been Claude Code, its AI-powered coding tool...

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli silenced the doubters on Friday, setting the fastest time of the week to lead a Silver Arrows one-two finish as the first pre-season testing event concluded in Bahrain. The Italian teenager clocked a 1m 33.669s in the twilight conditions, edging out team-mate George Russell by 0.249s.

It was a vital confidence boost following a disjointed week. After reliability struggles defined day three, where Antonelli was sidelined by power unit issues, the youngster finally demonstrated the W17’s potential.

Antonelli’s appearance was delayed by an hour, but he wasted little time once out on track. He snatched...

The High Court has ruled that the UK government acted unlawfully in banning activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, citing a disproportionate interference with rights to free speech and assembly.

However, the proscription will remain in force while the government considers an appeal.

In its judgment, the court found that the group’s activities did not meet the «level, scale and persistence» required under terrorism legislation. Judges noted that only a limited number of incidents could potentially qualify as terrorism, making a full ban excessive.

The government swiftly defended its position. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the...

The final day of the opening pre-season test in Bahrain began at full throttle, with George Russell setting the benchmark as teams continued to gather crucial data ahead of next week’s second test.

With just one more session remaining before a brief turnaround, Friday morning offered the final opportunity of this first test to refine set-ups under Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 regulations.

Russell quickest as Mercedes respond

Russell topped the session for Mercedes with a 1m 33.918s, the fastest lap of the test so far. It marked a strong response from the Silver Arrows after reliability concerns...

Seventeen-year-old Choi Ga-on delivered one of the moments of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games by denying Chloe Kim a historic third consecutive Olympic halfpipe gold.

It seemed set to be a coronation for Kim, widely regarded as the greatest women’s halfpipe rider in history. Instead, it was the South Korean teenager who stood atop the podium, completing what Kim later described as a «full circle moment».

Choi recovered from a heavy fall on her opening run to produce a superb final attempt worth 90.25 points, a score the 25-year-old American could not match. Kim, competing with a shoulder brace after...

Kazakhstan’s Otbasy Bank is preparing to enter the Uzbek market, Timur Onzhanov, deputy chairman of the management board of the Baiterek holding, told Bloomberg. Baiterek is the bank’s sole shareholder.

The holding is also considering expanding the lender’s presence into Malaysia and countries in the Middle East. The strategy includes developing mortgage lending and Islamic finance instruments in new markets.

Onzhanov said both the holding and the bank plan to raise foreign financing this year, either through direct borrowing from international banks or by issuing Eurobonds. Baiterek is also weighing the issuance of bonds denominated in yuan and...

Saudi-backed Midad Energy has signed a term sheet to acquire Russia’s Lukoil assets affected by Western sanctions, competing with rivals including private equity firm Carlyle Group. The agreement, reached in late January, covers all targeted assets and is conditional on approval from U.S. regulators, Reuters reports.

Under the deal, Midad will place its all-cash offer in escrow while seeking the necessary clearances, including from the U.S. Treasury. This approach aims to secure the transaction while adhering to sanctions restrictions. A source close to the negotiations described the bid as «high-stakes» and backed by strong political connections in...

Uzbekistan has seen a significant increase in enterprises with foreign investment over the past five years, nearly doubling to 18,500, according to the State Statistics Committee.

As of February 1, 2026, the country hosts 14,200 fully foreign-owned companies and 4,300 joint ventures. China leads with 5,200 companies, followed by Russia with 3,200 and Turkey with 2,100.

Other major investors include Kazakhstan with 1,200 companies, South Korea with 699, Afghanistan with 647, the United Arab Emirates with 413, Tajikistan with 410, India with 394, and Azerbaijan with 368.

The data highlights Uzbekistan’s growing attractiveness for foreign investors and the expanding...

The family of actor James Van Der Beek has received an outpouring of support following his death at the age of 48.

Van Der Beek, best known for starring in Dawson’s Creek, died on February 11 after a battle with colorectal cancer. In the days after the news broke, friends set up a GoFundMe account to help his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children.

By February 12, the campaign had raised $1 mln, surpassing the original target of $250,000. The goal was later increased to $1.3 mln. The fundraising page explained that the family faced financial...

Uzbekistan is preparing to gradually replace state control with a system of market supervision, authorities said during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A draft law on «Market Control» has already been prepared.

The reform also targets outdated standards. Currently, Uzbekistan has over 33,000 standards, around half of which do not meet international requirements. Plans include cancelling six technical regulations and revising 29 more. This year, 4,460 international standards are set to be introduced, with more than 2,500 to follow in 2027 and another 817 by 2028.

From July 2026, international standards will be implemented in textiles, leather, furniture...

Uzbekistan’s real estate gathered momentum in January, with 28,600 sales transactions recorded during the month, almost 12% more than in the same period of 2024, according to the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms.

The strongest growth was reported in Tashkent, where the number of deals jumped by 33.4%. Solid increases were also seen in Samarkand region, up 26%, and Syrdarya region, which rose 24%.

Prices Edge Up on Secondary Market

Price growth in the secondary housing market remained moderate. Across Uzbekistan, the average price per square metre increased by 0.9% month on month and by 8% year...

Anthropic has secured $30 bn in fresh funding, more than doubling its valuation to $380 bn and highlighting strong investor appetite for artificial intelligence ventures.

The round, announced on February 12, was co-led by D. E. Shaw Ventures, ICONIQ and MGX. It also included previously disclosed investments from Microsoft and Nvidia. The company is backed by Google and Amazon.

In early September, Anthropic said it had raised $13 bn in a Series F round that valued the firm at $183 bn. The latest deal marks a sharp increase in its market worth.

Focus on Coding Drives Growth

Anthropic...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies has confirmed that personal data belonging to around 60,000 citizens was compromised following cyberattacks on three state information systems.

The disclosure was made during a press conference attended by Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov. The attacks took place between January 27 and 30.

Earlier reports circulating on social media had claimed that data belonging to 15 mln citizens had been leaked. The ministry rejected those claims as false.

Shermatov said unauthorised access to the affected information infrastructure had been blocked. User passwords for the unified identification system OneID were updated and additional safeguards were...

Italian short track legend Arianna Fontana extended her historic Olympic run on Thursday (12 February), claiming a silver medal in the women’s 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The medal marks Fontana’s 13th Olympic podium finish, making her the most decorated short track speed skater in history and tying the overall Italian Olympic medal record set by fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

The 35-year-old, who made her Olympic debut as a 15-year-old at Turin 2006, has now won medals at six consecutive Winter Games. Earlier this week, she captured gold in the mixed team relay...

Two-time Olympic champion Sidney Crosby is once again leading Team Canada into battle, bringing what he describes as a «focused type of confidence» ahead of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has already claimed Olympic gold twice and remains one of the most accomplished players of his generation. Yet the veteran centreman insists past success guarantees nothing.

«We’re confident, but I think it’s a focused type of confidence,» Crosby said after practice at Milano Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday. «We believe...

One of the most talked-about names in international winter sport, Eileen Gu, continues to draw global attention — not only for her medals, but for the flag she represents.

Born and raised in San Francisco, the 22-year-old freestyle skiing sensation competes for China, the homeland of her mother, rather than the United States. Gu announced her decision in 2019, saying she hoped to help grow winter sports in China, adding that the US «already has the representation.»

Her citizenship choice quickly became a subject of debate in American media and politics. However, Gu has remained focused on competition...

Former French culture minister Jack Lang has resigned as president of the Institut du monde arabe after newly released U.S. justice department files detailed his past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The documents, part of a recent tranche of Epstein-related disclosures, show extensive correspondence between Lang and Epstein, including requests for private transport and expressions of gratitude for the financier’s «generosity.» In one 2017 message, Lang thanked Epstein and asked to borrow a chauffeur-driven car for a private event.

Lang, 86, has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal history at the time of their association, saying...