News

Former Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili will serve a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of large-scale money laundering, prosecutors said on Monday.

Garibashvili, who led the country from 2021 to 2024 and earlier from 2013 to 2015, was also fined 1 mln lari ($375,000). He was taken into custody following a court hearing in Tbilisi, according to his lawyer.

The case stems from raids carried out in October, when authorities said they seized $6.5 mln in cash from Garibashvili’s home. He has not publicly commented on the charges.

Garibashvili is a longtime ally of billionaire...

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has donated $10K to a GoFundMe campaign supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross, who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good during a Minneapolis operation last week. The top donor credit on the fundraiser lists «William Ackman», and Ackman confirmed the contribution in a social media post, saying he believes in the principle that individuals are innocent until proven guilty and intended to support both the agent’s and Good’s family’s campaigns, though the latter had already closed after raising over $1.5 mln.

Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and...

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte has praised U.S. President Donald Trump for pushing allies to increase defence spending, while avoiding direct comment on Trump’s controversial remarks about Greenland.

Speaking during a visit to Croatia, where he met Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Rutte said Trump was «doing the right things for NATO» by encouraging European countries to spend more on defence. He credited Trump with helping secure agreement at last year’s Nato summit in The Hague to raise defence spending targets to 5% of GDP.

Asked about Trump’s comments suggesting the US could seek control of Greenland, Rutte declined...

Israel’s incoming ambassador to the UK, Tzachi Braverman, has been banned from leaving the country after being arrested as part of an investigation into the leak of classified military documents.

Braverman, who serves as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, is accused of attempting to obstruct an inquiry into the leak of secret papers from the prime minister’s office related to Israel’s war goals in Gaza. The documents were published by the German newspaper Bild in 2024 and were seen as supporting Netanyahu’s justification for continuing the conflict.

After a 13-hour interrogation by Israel’s major crime unit...

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr accused Germany of prosecuting «a thousand physicians» for issuing vaccine and mask exemptions during the Covid-19 pandemic, claims the German government has dismissed as unfounded.

In a post on Saturday, Kennedy said he had written to German Health Minister Nina Warken calling for an end to what he described as «politically motivated prosecutions», accusing Germany of targeting doctors who «put their patients first». He did not provide evidence to support the allegations.

Warken rejected the claims as «completely unfounded» and said medical autonomy was constitutionally protected in Germany. She stressed that...

Toronto FC have made a £13.4 mln offer for Norwich City and USA forward Josh Sargent, who is keen to return to MLS to be closer to his family. The 25-year-old recently informed manager Philippe Clement that he was not available for Norwich’s FA Cup match against Walsall due to transfer concerns, though Clement has insisted the striker will not be sold this window. Talks are set to continue this week.

Elsewhere, Brentford have completed the £8 mln signing of 18-year-old forward Kaye Furo from Club Brugge. West Ham have stepped up their search for defensive reinforcements and...

J.K. Rowling has faced renewed online criticism after sharing a post in support of protesters in Iran, reigniting debate over selective activism by public figures.

The Harry Potter author posted an image linked to the «Women, Life, Freedom» movement on X on 11 January, criticising activists who, in her view, support human rights while remaining silent on Iran. The post quickly went viral as protests across the country intensified amid economic hardship and political repression.

While supporters praised Rowling for amplifying the voices of Iranian protesters, critics accused her of inconsistent advocacy, pointing to other global conflicts she...

Scuderia Ferrari is adopting an “aggressive” strategy for the 2026 Formula 1 season, pushing the assembly of its new car to the absolute limit. With the team facing a major technical revolution, Maranello is betting on maximizing development time, even if it means finishing the car just hours before its official presentation.

According to a report by Autoracer, the Italian team finds itself at a crossroads between aggressive innovation and potential delays as it tackles the new 2026 regulations. These rules introduce a simultaneous overhaul of both aerodynamics and power units, all while operating under a strict cost...

Shares of high-liquidity companies on the Tashkent Stock Exchange (UzSE) recorded mostly positive movement between December 30 and January 9, lifting the UCI fund index by 0.95%.

During this period, ordinary shares of O‘zsanoatqurilishbank posted the strongest growth, soaring 75.48%. Hamkorbank also saw gains, with preferred shares up 17.37% and ordinary shares rising 15.12%. On the other hand, Qashqadaryo Technological Transport shares fell 9.84%, marking the largest decline of the week. AMMC (-4.71%) and Kvarts (-4.04%) also posted losses, while shares of Aloqabank and Chilonzor Commodity Complex remained unchanged.

In terms of transactions, O‘zsanoatqurilishbank led with 1,968 deals, followed...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated that the European Union and India might sign a free trade agreement as early as the end of January, following his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Merz said that the presidents of the European Commission and European Council would travel to India to formalise the agreement if it is finalised by then. During his first trip to India as chancellor, he added:

“In any case, they will take another major step forward to ensure that this free trade agreement comes into being.”

Negotiations had initially...

Global smartphone shipments increased for a second straight year in 2025, posting 2% year-on-year growth, according to Counterpoint Research. The market maintained momentum through the year, supported by a shift toward higher-priced devices, financing options, strong marketing and faster uptake of 5G phones in developing economies.

Counterpoint said consumers continued to trade up to premium models in 2025, while demand for 5G handsets surged across emerging regions. Concerns over tariffs led manufacturers to bring shipments forward in the first half, but their impact proved weaker than expected later in the year, limiting effects on second-half volumes. Growth varied by...

As of December 1, 2025, a total of 15,200 Uzbek citizens had been issued visas to the United States. This is an increase of 1,200 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

Tourism was the main reason for travel, with 10,800 people visiting the U.S. for leisure over the first 11 months of the year. More than 3,700 Uzbek citizens travelled to meet relatives.

Educational trips accounted for 333 visitors, while 307 travelled for business purposes. Twenty-eight citizens went to the United States for medical treatment.

Kursiv also reports that Kyrgyzstan’s...

In 2025 the median offered salary in Uzbekistan reached 5.3 mln soums ($437), a 1.8% decrease compared with the previous year, according to hh.uz.

Across the country’s largest cities, median salaries range from 4.6 to 5.4 mln soums ($379-$445). Tashkent remains the top-paying city with around 5.4 mln soums ($445), despite a slight drop from 2024, maintaining its position as the main centre for high-paying vacancies.

Samarkand ranks second, with median salaries rising to 5 mln soums ($412), the largest increase among major cities, reflecting growing business activity and competition for talent.

Cities with mid-level salaries include Urgench, Andijan and...

A technical delegation from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has arrived in Uzbekistan for a 28-day training and capacity-building programme aimed at enhancing skills in the mining sector.

The group, led by the heads of the Institute of Mines and the Technical Inspection Department, includes 20 technical and professional staff members. The programme features visits to accredited laboratory units, demonstrations of advanced equipment, modern testing techniques and the exchange of practical knowledge.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said the initiative is part of ongoing technical and scientific cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The programme aims to improve...

The Golden Globe Awards were held in Los Angeles, recognising the best achievements in film and television over the past year.

In the film categories, One Battle After Another and Hamnet took top honours, while Netflix’s Adolescence maintained its winning streak in television.

Film winners

Acting awards

Timothee Chalamet was among the standout winners as Hollywood gathered for this year’s Golden Globe Awards, taking a key prize in the run-up to the Oscars.

Chalamet, 30, won best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in the table tennis film Marty Supreme, beating nominees including Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney. The victory marked a significant moment in his continuing pursuit of an Academy Award.

The Golden Globes are seen as an important indicator ahead of the Oscars, and other acting honours on the night went to Teyana Taylor and Stellan Skarsgard.

The ceremony also recognises...

Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday. Tehran warned it could target U.S. military bases if President Donald Trump follows through on renewed threats to intervene in support of protesters.

The demonstrations are the largest since 2022 and began on December 28 over soaring prices before turning into broader protests against Iran’s clerical leadership. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 arrests over two weeks. Iran has not released official figures.

Trump...

Gold prices rose above the $4,600 per-ounce mark for the first time on Monday. Silver also climbed to a record high, supported by geopolitical and economic uncertainty and growing expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts.

Spot gold gained 1.3% to $4,469.49 per ounce by 02:03 GMT, after earlier reaching a record $4,600.33. U.S. gold futures for February delivery advanced 2% to $4,591.10. Analysts said geopolitical risks were a key factor driving strong intraday gains in both gold and silver.

Unrest in Iran has added to market concerns, with reports that more than 500 people have been killed. Tehran has...

US President Donald Trump is considering potential military action against Iran as nationwide protests continue to spread across the country, The New York Times reported, citing official sources.

According to the newspaper, Trump has received several new military options in recent days, including scenarios that would involve strikes on non-military targets in Tehran. While no final decision has been made, the administration is treating the proposals seriously, the sources said.

Protests in Iran began on December 28, initially involving traders and students angered by the sharp depreciation of the national currency and rising prices. The unrest intensified...

Uzbekistan plans to welcome up to 100,000 visitors from Malaysia and Indonesia over the next two years as part of its Umrah Plus tourism programme.

The initiative, scheduled for 2026–2027, will combine pilgrimage travel with cultural tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to include Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara in their itineraries.

To attract travellers, the authorities plan to organise celebrations marking Ramadan Hayit and Qurban Hayit, alongside targeted promotional campaigns such as In the Footsteps of Imam Bukhari and Spend Ramadan in Uzbekistan.

Tour operators involved in the programme will receive a $100 subsidy per tourist, while travellers will benefit from discounted access to historical sites, hotels and dining during...

Uzbekistan’s privatised Samarkand Automobile Plant (SamAuto) plans to scale up output and broaden its model range following its acquisition by Turkey’s Anadolu Isuzu, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade said.

The plans were discussed at a meeting between MIIT head Laziz Kudratov and Anadolu Isuzu’s management, where the sides reviewed ongoing cooperation, investment projects, production modernisation, localisation and technology transfer.

In December, Anadolu Isuzu acquired a 75.2% stake in SamAuto for $80m. The investor now intends to launch production of new types of agricultural vehicles and specialised equipment, while expanding the existing product line.

According to the...

Islam Abdurakhmonov has been confirmed as chairman of the board of Uzbekhydroenergo, the company said following an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on January 8. He had served as acting head since December 18 and has now signed a three-year employment contract.

Abdurakhmonov replaces Abdugani Sanginov, who led Uzbekhydroenergo since May 2017 and was recently appointed chairman of Uzbekneftegaz. Local media report that Islam Abdurakhmonov is Sanginov’s son.

The new CEO holds degrees in power engineering and economics. He studied at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute from 2008 to 2012, the Tashkent State Technical University between 2013 and 2015 and the Tashkent State University of Economics from...

The United States carried out large-scale air and ground strikes against ISIS positions in Syria, the US Central Command confirmed. The operations form part of «Operation Hawk Strike,» launched on December 19, 2025 under orders from President Donald Trump.

The military said the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure, aiming to disrupt planning, prevent new attacks, and protect American troops and allied forces in the region.

US forces emphasised that the campaign focuses on degrading ISIS capabilities and limiting the group’s ability to carry out operations in Syria and beyond.

Officials warned that any harm to US personnel will trigger decisive...

Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer and lung issues, his family confirmed on Instagram. «There is no final curtain here, not really. Only the sense of someone setting off again,» the post read, highlighting Weir’s wish for his music and legacy to live on.

Weir’s career spanned more than six decades, beginning with the formation of the Grateful Dead in 1965. The band quickly became a defining force in San Francisco’s counterculture, blending psychedelic rock, folk, and Americana...