News

Kazakhstan will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games after Saudi Arabia withdrew as the original host. Almaty was confirmed as the new venue by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) during the Winter Olympics in Italy.

OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani expressed gratitude to Kazakhstan for its dedication to winter sports, saying,

«We have no doubt we will build on this legacy and deliver an unforgettable Games in 2029.»

The Games had initially been scheduled for Trojena resort in the new Saudi city of Neom but were postponed last month. No...

Google revealed that YouTube brought in more than $60 bn in revenue in 2025, combining advertising earnings and paid subscriptions. The figure exceeds Netflix’s $45 bn revenue and marks the first time Google has publicly broken out YouTube’s annual revenue since acquiring the platform in 2006.

Midia Research analyst Hanna Kahlert said the announcement reflects YouTube’s deep integration into daily digital life, with over 70% of global consumers using it weekly and more than half using it daily. Its diverse revenue streams allow the platform to capitalise on its large audience.

Despite ad revenue in the last quarter of...

Manchester City midfielder Abduqodir Khusanov has been named the club’s Etihad Player of the Month for January, according to the results of the fan vote.

The 21-year-old played seven matches during the month, regularly starting and maintaining a high level of performance. Coaches praised his reliability, tactical awareness and composure in duels.

Khusanov beat teammates including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and captain Bernardo Silva to claim the award. The young player has quickly become a favourite among fans for his discipline and calm presence on the pitch. January’s recognition marks Khusanov’s first individual Etihad award.

Kursiv also reports that...

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb accidentally distributed over $40 bn in bitcoin to customers as part of a promotional event, sparking a sharp selloff on the platform.

The error occurred when the exchange intended to send small cash rewards of 2,000 Korean won ($1.37) or more. Instead, each winner received at least 2,000 bitcoins, media reports said. Bithumb restricted trading and withdrawals for the 695 affected accounts within 35 minutes and has recovered 99.7% of the 620,000 bitcoins, worth roughly $44 bn.

The company stressed that the incident was not caused by hacking or security failures and that customer...

President Donald Trump condemned but declined to apologise on February 6 for a video shared on his social media account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, triggering swift bipartisan outrage.

The White House initially defended the post before deleting it about 12 hours later. The video, shared late February 5 on Trump’s Truth Social platform, promoted false claims that his 2020 election defeat was due to fraud and included what appeared to be an AI-generated clip featuring dancing primates with the Obamas’ faces.

Trump told reporters he had not watched the entire...

The acclaimed fantasy video game franchise Baldur’s Gate is being adapted into a television series, with Craig Mazin, the creator of HBO’s The Last of Us and Chernobyl, attached as showrunner.

The move follows the huge success of Baldur’s Gate 3, which launched in 2023 to widespread critical praise, sold more than 20 mln copies and became the first game to sweep all five major Game of the Year awards.

The plot

The series will be set after the events of the latest game, drawing on the world’s established lore while introducing new storylines and characters grappling with...

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games officially got under way on February 6 night following an ambitious opening ceremony staged across four Italian venues.

Milan’s San Siro stadium served as the centrepiece, while additional segments unfolded simultaneously in Cortina, Livigno and Predazzo. Organisers had faced questions over the complexity of such a format, but the event ran smoothly and delivered a polished spectacle.

Dual cauldrons and a celebratory parade

Two Olympic cauldrons were ignited, one in Milan and another in Cortina, as Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed Nessun Dorma while the torch arrived at San Siro. The ceremony culminated with...

Snoop Dogg may have grabbed early attention at the Cortina Curling Stadium, but it was Team GB’s mixed doubles pair who delivered where it mattered, extending their unbeaten run at the Winter Olympics.

The U.S. rap star, in Cortina as a Team U.S.A. hype man and self-styled honorary coach, even took to the ice for a light-hearted practice session after the morning games, watched by a curious crowd.

His appearance followed Britain’s hard-fought 7-4 victory over Sweden, their rivals from the 2022 bronze medal match. Snoop Dogg later asked British curlers Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat for a selfie...

At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured after a powerful explosion struck an imambargah during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s federal capital.

The blast occurred at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in the Tarlai area of Islamabad. Police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and began rescue and evacuation efforts.

The attack took place during the official two-day visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Islamabad Capital Territory Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said it was too early to determine the exact nature of the explosion, but initial indications suggested a suicide attack. Security forces sealed off...

Winter Olympic anti-doping officials say they will be alert to any evidence that male ski jumpers are artificially enlarging their private parts in an attempt to exploit competition rules and gain an aerodynamic advantage.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General Olivier Niggli said the issue would be reviewed if it fell within the agency’s definition of doping. Speaking at a press conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Niggli said WADA currently has no indication the practice is taking place.

«I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this...

Toyota has appointed finance chief Kenta Kon as its next chief executive, replacing Koji Sato from April 1. Kon, a close ally of Chairman Akio Toyoda, will take over as the world’s largest automaker faces intensifying competition from Chinese rivals.

Sato, who has led Toyota for three years, will become vice chairman and take on a new role as chief industry officer, focusing on broader industry matters while Kon concentrates on internal management and finances.

Known for strict cost control, Kon also spearheaded the planned buyout of forklift subsidiary Toyota Industries, a deal opposed by minority shareholders for being...

Russian authorities have banned stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov from entering the country for 50 years. He was detained at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after arriving on a Fly Dubai flight from the United Arab Emirates, where he had been filming a commercial project, according to Telegram channel SHOT.

During passport control, Saburov was taken to a separate room and served with the entry ban. He previously faced cancellations of concerts in several Russian cities including Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Nizhny Tagil, Kurgan, Ryazan and Obninsk. Organisers cited «unforeseen circumstances» and pledged to refund tickets within 180 days.

In May 2025, Saburov was...

Arrow McLaren has officially opened its new North American headquarters and unveiled the three Chevrolet-powered cars set for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series.

The McLaren Racing Center on Zionsville Road, formerly home to Andretti Global, has undergone six months of renovation, expanding from 30,000 to 86,000 square feet. The upgraded facility includes a new gym, an extended mezzanine and an immersive lobby showcasing the team’s history.

Team Principal Tony Kanaan presented the 2026 driver lineup, continuing the team’s strong momentum from 2025. Pato O’Ward returns in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Nolan Siegel drives the No. 6, and...

China’s TBEA Co., Ltd. has signed an agreement with Uzbek state company Uzgidroenergo to upgrade three hydroelectric stations in the Lower Bozsu cascade in Tashkent region.

Following the modernisation, the combined capacity of the plants will rise from 27.4 MW to 32.4 MW. An additional 5 MW of power will be installed, and annual electricity generation is expected to increase by 52.8 mln kWh.

The project is expected to supply electricity to more than 21,000 households, reduce natural gas consumption by 17 mln cubic metres and save over 40,000 tonnes of coal each year.

Kursiv also reports that...

Inflation in Uzbekistan rose by 0.7% in January 2026, bringing the annual increase to 7.2%, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Regionally, the highest annual inflation was recorded in Fergana at 7.7%, followed by Bukhara and Khorezm regions at 7.5%. The lowest price growth occurred in Jizzakh at 6.7% and the capital region at 6.8%. In Tashkent, inflation reached 7.2% over the year.

Food prices increased by 5.4% and healthcare costs rose by 5.2% year-on-year. Education services saw a moderate increase of 1.6%, while transport costs surged by 12.1%. Utilities became 17% more expensive and insurance services jumped 40%.

Mercedes’ new F1 engine design has been approved by the FIA, but it has stirred concern among rival teams over a potential competitive advantage.

According to reports, the Brixworth six-cylinder engine features a second micro combustion chamber that remains inactive when cold to comply with the 16:1 compression limit, but activates when hot, effectively reaching 18:1 compression during racing. The FIA confirmed the design is legal, while Mercedes insists the power unit is fully compliant.

Theoretically, the innovation could give Mercedes a measurable gain of around 10 horsepower, with additional advantage from optimised sustainable fuel chemistry. Rival teams...

BTS has unveiled the Official Light Stick Ver.4, an upgraded version of its fan light stick with new features and an enhanced wireless control system. The Ver.4 release comes nearly six years after the previous Map of The Soul Special Edition.

The new Light Stick offers a refreshed design and comes with compatible accessories, including a cradle and replaceable parts in BTS and ARMY versions. A new app and improved wireless system enhance usability and allow more sophisticated stage effects during concerts.

Key upgrades include:

Two Democratic U.S. senators have urged the Pentagon to launch an immediate review of SpaceX. This follows allegations that investors linked to China secretly acquired stakes in the company, potential posing risks to national security.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim asked Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to examine the matter, warning that undisclosed Chinese investment could threaten sensitive military, intelligence and civilian infrastructure.

The lawmakers pointed to media reports and court testimony suggesting that funds tied to China were channelled through entities in the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands to conceal purchases...

Uzbekistan and Pakistan have prepared a joint portfolio of projects worth $3.5 bn following high-level talks in Tashkent.

On February 5, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held negotiations and chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation.

The agreed projects span agriculture, electrical engineering, geology, pharmaceuticals, and the light and food industries. The two sides also agreed to establish a Business Council, launch a Uzbekistan–Pakistan Regional Forum, and organise a Week of Uzbek Culture and Days of Uzbek Cinema in Pakistan.

Mirziyoyev proposed opening a joint cultural centre in Lahore dedicated...

Boris Golender, a historian, local studies expert, journalist and writer who devoted his career to exploring the history and culture of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, died on February 5 after a long illness. He was 77.

Golender was born in Tashkent on September 12, 1947. He graduated from the chemistry faculty of Tashkent State University and later defended a PhD in chemistry.

Alongside his scientific background, Golender dedicated decades to researching the history of his native city and country. He authored more than 100 works, including books and articles, focusing on Tashkent’s past, architecture and cultural heritage.

He worked at...

Uzbekistan and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the supply, extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth materials.

The agreement was signed on February 5 during the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals in Washington by Uzbekistan’s foreign minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

“We view critical minerals not only as an economic opportunity but also as a field for responsible partnership and long-term sustainable development,” Saidov said.

Uzbekistan holds significant reserves of gold, copper, tungsten, silver and uranium. In...

Magnus Carlsen remains the undisputed star of chess, topping Forbes’ ranking of the 10 players with the highest annual prize earnings. Even without competing for the formal world championship title, the Norwegian dominated tournaments across multiple continents.

Fabiano Caruana and Levon Aronian also claimed top spots, while veterans like Hikaru Nakamura made a major comeback after a quieter previous year.

Two young Uzbek grandmasters broke into the top 10 as well. Nodirbek Abdusattorov had a breakthrough season with wins at major events including the London Chess Classic, and Javokhir Sindarov captured attention with a historic FIDE World...

Sony Group has outlined plans to expand the Peanuts franchise across music, film and global distribution following its acquisition of an 80% stake in Peanuts Worldwide.

Speaking on the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call, chief financial officer Lin Tao said the deal brings together Sony’s music and film divisions to grow what he described as one of the world’s most enduring intellectual properties.

Sony Music Entertainment Japan plans to integrate Peanuts characters and stories into music, video and live events, including collaborations with its artists. Sony Pictures Entertainment will use its production capabilities and international distribution network to broaden...

Uzbekistan’s Republican Commodity and Stock Exchange (UzEx) recorded a 31% increase in total trade volumes in 2025 compared with 2024.

The electronic government procurement segment grew by 46% over the year, while exchange and fair trading volumes rose by 24% and 9% respectively.

In total, 30,100 new clients joined the exchange and e-commerce systems in 2025. Of these, 4,700 registered on the trading platforms, while 25,400 joined electronic systems and government procurement platforms.

Most transactions involved agricultural products, fuel and energy goods, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and chemical and petrochemical products.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv...