News

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is investing in East Can Solutions to support the construction of Uzbekistan’s first greenfield aluminium can production facility, the company said.

Based in Tashkent, the plant will supply domestic beverage producers with fully recyclable metal packaging, helping meet growing demand while reducing the country’s reliance on imports. Uzbekistan’s metal packaging market is currently fully dependent on foreign suppliers, leaving manufacturers exposed to supply chain disruptions, volatile import costs and long delivery times.

IFC’s financing will also support job creation, with more than 200 direct positions anticipated once the facility is fully operational.

Production capacity is...

Worldwide, international passenger traffic increased 7.1% compared with 2024, while domestic travel grew 2.4%, accroding to IATA. Airlines faced tight capacity, with the global passenger load factor reaching 83.6%, a record for annual volumes. December 2025 capped the year strongly, as overall traffic rose 5.6% and load factors climbed to 83.7%.

IATA highlighted ongoing challenges for the aviation sector, including decarbonisation and supply chain constraints.

«Sustainable aviation fuel and energy development are essential for countries whose economies rely on air transport,» IATA Director General Willie Walsh said.

Airlines also faced delays in new aircraft deliveries...

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, and U.S. reality star Kim Kardashian have been spotted enjoying a private romantic weekend in the Cotswolds, The Sun reports.

The pair spent time at the exclusive Estelle Manor in Witney, Oxfordshire, where they had full use of the spa, pool and private dining facilities. Kim, 45, flew in from Los Angeles on her private jet, accompanied by three bodyguards, while Hamilton, 41, arrived later by helicopter.

Insiders said the couple enjoyed a couples’ massage and an intimate dinner, with security officers stationed outside to ensure privacy. Both kept a low...

Uzbekistan’s General Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal case over the fire at the Aviator shopping centre in Tashkent, the agency confirmed to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The investigation is examining potential abuse of authority and breaches of fire safety regulations. The blaze broke out on January 31 on the second floor of the mall, which housed a children’s play area and a food court. According to Gazeta.uz, the fire alarm and suppression systems did not activate during the incident.

Around 200 rescuers and dozens of vehicles were involved in tackling the fire. Traffic near the mall was temporarily halted. After...

The 68th Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles, with Kendrick Lamar emerging as the biggest winner for the second year in a row. The rapper took home five awards, including record of the year for his duet with SZA, “Luther”, and best rap album for “GNX”. He became the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history.

Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny claimed album of the year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Other winners across genres reflected a diverse year in music.

Major Winners:

In 2025, Uzbekistan imported 510,000 tons of Russian petrol, becoming one of the largest recipients of fuel shipments by rail, Kommersant reports.

Other significant importers included Kyrgyzstan with 526,000 tons, Mongolia at 820,000 tons, and Tajikistan with 406,000 tons. Overall, Russia exported 2.6 mln tons of petrol abroad.

Rail shipments declined in December to 209,000 tons, down 22% from November and 36% year-on-year, as experts attributed the drop to Central Asian countries reaching their annual duty-free import quotas.

Maritime exports of Russian petrol also fell by 40% compared with 2024, reaching 2.1 mln tons, following several months of an...

Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny used his first televised acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammy Awards to deliver a sharp rebuke of U.S. immigration authorities, declaring «ICE out» in protest against federal enforcement actions.

After winning best music urbana album for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the artist told the audience:

«We’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.»

Often dubbed the King of Trap, Bad Bunny said love was stronger than hate and urged people to respond to cruelty with compassion, stressing the importance of family and community.

Previous actions

Bad...

Uzbek grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov claimed victory at the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Tournament, held in Wijk aan Zee.

Abdusattorov finished clear on top with nine points from 13 rounds, delivering the strongest overall performance of the event. His tournament performance rating reached 2862, the highest recorded at this year’s competition.

Throughout the tournament, he displayed consistent play, handling his games against the main title contenders with confidence.

The 2026 triumph marks Abdusattorov’s first win at Tata Steel Chess after several near misses in previous years. He finished second in 2023 and took third place in both 2024 and 2025.

Widely...

Kendrick Lamar has officially become the most-awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy history after adding four more trophies to his collection.

The rapper won best rap album for GNX, best rap song for TV Off, melodic rap performance for Luther and best rap performance for his feature on Clipse’s Chains & Whips. The wins lifted his career total to 26 Grammys, moving him ahead of Jay-Z on 25 and Kanye West on 24.

Lamar could yet extend his lead, with major categories including album of the year, song of the year and record of the year still to be announced.

Church authorities and cultural heritage officials in Italy have opened separate investigations following controversy around a restored fresco in central Rome.

The case concerns the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, where a cherub depicted on a wall painting was found to bear a striking resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The similarity became noticeable after recent restoration works were completed.

The Vicarate of Rome confirmed that Cardinal Baldassare Reina ordered an internal review. Church officials said they intend to establish how the image appeared and who may be responsible for the alteration.

Italy’s Superintendency for...

Gold markets saw a sharp correction this week after reaching historic highs. On January 29, April futures initially climbed to $5,626.8 per ounce before falling to $5,126.

The decline continued on Friday, with spot gold dropping 6.9% from the previous close to $5,001 per ounce. Analysts link the pullback to profit-taking and stronger dollar movements.

Despite the recent correction, gold has gained roughly 20% for January, marking its sixth consecutive month of growth. This increase comes amid persistent economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, and could be the largest monthly jump since 1982.

Market watchers also pointed to U.S...

The U.S. government announced it will suspend immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 nations starting January 21. The decision comes as part of an intensified effort to tighten immigration controls, a State Department spokesperson said.

Affected countries span Latin America, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Nations such as Brazil, Colombia, Albania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan are included on the list. The pause will remain in place while policies and procedures are reviewed.

According to officials, the review aims to ensure applicants are fully screened and financially self-sufficient. The State Department cited...

The European Union is reportedly preparing sanctions against Kyrgyzstan for its role in facilitating trade that bypasses existing EU measures on Russia, Bloomberg reports.

The proposed measures could include restrictions on exporting machinery and certain radio equipment to Kyrgyzstan. This would mark the first use of the EU’s anti-circumvention mechanism against a third country.

In addition, the EU plans to tighten restrictions on Russian banks and oil firms. Services linked to cryptocurrencies and other financial entities that help Moscow avoid sanctions may also face limits.

The package may also introduce broader trade curbs, targeting companies and products used...

Air pollution levels in Uzbekistan worsened on January 29–30 due to unfavorable meteorological conditions, the Ecology Committee reported. Experts pointed to calm winds and the formation of a temperature inversion as key factors.

During the night and early morning, a cold air layer settled near the ground while warmer air remained above. This inversion trapped fine particulate matter close to the surface, keeping pollution concentrated in urban areas for hours.

Morning fog further aggravated the situation. High humidity during foggy conditions slows the dispersion of PM2.5 particles, increasing their concentration in the air and elevating pollution levels.

The...

A fire broke out at a household hygiene product factory in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, on January 30, leaving one Uzbek worker missing. The blaze began around 2:56 p.m., though the cause remains under investigation.

The fire quickly spread to nearby production facilities. The plant produces wet wipes and baby diapers, and officials confirmed that no hazardous chemicals or dangerous materials were stored on site.

At the time of the incident, 83 employees were present. Emergency teams successfully evacuated 81 workers, but two employees—a Nepali and an Uzbek national—remain unaccounted for and are considered missing.

Strong...

Uzbekistan collected a record UZS 181 bn ($15 mln) in digital services taxes last year. The total reflects a sharp 50% increase compared with 2024, showing the country’s growing oversight of foreign tech activity. In total, 78 companies contributed, ranging from global platforms to emerging AI providers.

Apple led the payments with over $4 mln, followed closely by Meta and Google. AI company OpenAI also made a notable contribution of nearly $1 mln, signaling increased adoption of artificial intelligence tools in Uzbekistan. Other contributors included TikTok, Netflix, Amazon, Booking.com, and Xsolla.

Under Uzbek law, foreign firms offering electronic...

Uzbekistan has finalized a residential development in Turkiye’s Hatay province as part of post-earthquake recovery efforts. Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally handed over apartment keys to local residents during a joint ceremony.

The newly built complex, named Uzbekistan, consists of 24 residential buildings with a total of 300 apartments. The project was delivered by Uzbek construction companies in an area severely affected by the February 2023 earthquake.

The initiative forms part of broader humanitarian cooperation between Tashkent and Ankara. It reflects Uzbekistan’s involvement not only in emergency aid but also in long-term reconstruction in...

Uzbekistan is set to attract $10 mln in Turkish investment as MT Makina enters the country’s waste management sector. The projects will be implemented in the Samarkand region and focus on both waste sorting and equipment manufacturing, according to the Agency for Waste Management.

Rather than importing machinery, the partnership is aimed at building local capacity. Plans include a high-capacity waste sorting facility capable of processing up to 500 tonnes of household waste per day, helping regions move away from landfill-based disposal.

A separate production site will manufacture containers and specialized waste-collection vehicles. Annual output is expected...

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the United Nations could face a financial collapse as early as July. He outlined the risks in a letter to UN member states, stressing that the crisis threatens the organization’s core operations.

According to Guterres, the shortfall is already affecting peacekeeping missions and humanitarian programs. The main cause is the failure of the largest donor, the United States, to fully pay its assessed contributions, along with cuts in voluntary funding.

The Secretary-General presented a clear choice to member states. Either all countries meet their financial obligations in full and on...

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and transport as ties between the two neighbours continue to deepen.

The talks took place during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Tashkent Beibut Atamkulov, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.

Both sides noted the steady growth in bilateral trade and reaffirmed their commitment to increasing mutual trade turnover to $10 bn by 2030 under a Joint Programme. Preparations were also discussed for the first meeting of the Council of Regional Leaders, scheduled...

Uzbekistan and the World Bank have discussed attracting $55 mln in loan financing to support the construction of next-generation schools across the country, as part of broader efforts to modernise the national education system.

The talks took place in Tashkent between Yves Jeancleme, the World Bank’s Senior Education Specialist, and Otabek Fazilkarimov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan. In addition to the proposed loan, the sides reviewed the allocation of a $5 mln grant and a separate $70 mln programme aimed at expanding and upgrading preschool education.

Discussions focused on improving coordination and efficiency across education...

Uzbekistan face a must-win test against Japan on Sunday as Group C of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026™ reaches a critical stage in Jakarta.

Japan have already secured their place in the knockout rounds after a composed 3–0 victory over Tajikistan, with head coach Kensuke Takahashi praising his side’s patience, defensive solidity and tactical discipline. The four-time champions will now look to fine-tune their game, knowing Uzbekistan present a physical and experienced challenge.

Uzbekistan, coached by Nodir Elibaev, sit on four points following a spirited 4–2 comeback win against Australia. However, Elibaev insists his team must...

Uzbekistan and Turkey have agreed to work towards boosting bilateral trade to $5 bn, following a high-level meeting in Ankara between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The talks took place during the fourth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by the two leaders as part of President Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Turkey. The meeting marked a new stage in the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

Discussions focused on expanding political dialogue, strengthening trade and economic ties, improving transport connectivity, and deepening cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Both sides noted steady growth in bilateral trade, a...

Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, best known for its viral Labubu dolls, has chosen London as the location for its new regional headquarters and plans to open seven additional stores across the UK.

The announcement was made during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official visit to China, aimed at boosting economic growth through trade and investment ties. Starmer’s office said the trip has already secured export deals worth £2.2 bn and market access valued at £2.3 bn over the next five years.

Pop Mart’s Labubu dolls, instantly recognisable for their toothy grin and pointy ears, have become global...