News

Thousands of people gathered at a zoo in Japan on January 25 to say goodbye to the country’s last two giant pandas, who are due to return to China on January 27.

At Tokyo’s Ueno zoo, emotions were high as visitors waited in lines of up to three-and-a-half hours to see the twin cubs, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, for the final time.

The farewell comes at a tense moment in relations between Tokyo and Beijing, which have worsened sharply after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan would intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

With the twins...

Michael Schumacher is reportedly no longer confined to bed 12 years after suffering a serious head injury in a skiing accident.

Little has been made public about the 57-year-old’s condition since the crash in the French Alps in 2013, but a newspaper has reported that the seven-time Formula One world champion can now sit up in a wheelchair.

Schumacher remains under constant care from his wife Corinna and a team of medical professionals. However, his progress means he can now be wheeled around his properties in Majorca and near Lake Geneva.

He has not been seen in public since...

Tashkent has launched a project to introduce South Korea’s intellectual property administration system, K-IPAS, with Seoul providing $9.7 mln in funding.

The project runs until 2029 and aims to fully digitise the administration of intellectual property in Uzbekistan. Artificial intelligence technologies will be introduced to automatically search and classify patents. This marks the first time South Korea has exported its AI-based system abroad.

Authorities expect the integration of these technologies to improve the efficiency of government agencies and simplify procedures for businesses. In the longer term, Uzbekistan is expected to become a hub for spreading the South Korean model...

The ADAC RAVENOL Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) has confirmed a calendar change for 2026, moving the second round of the season to March 21. The new date could allow Max Verstappen to take part in NLS2, potentially driving for Winward Racing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.

The race has been brought forward by a week to take advantage of a gap in the Formula 1 calendar between the Chinese Grand Prix on March 15 and the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29. The race would fit neatly into his schedule and could form part of his preparation for the...

IndiGo cancelled flights to Tbilisi, Almaty, Tashkent and Baku until January 28, citing security concerns linked to the situation around Iran.

In a post on X, IndiGo said it is closely monitoring developments in the region and is proactively reviewing its flight operations, stressing that safety remains its top priority.

Following a detailed assessment, the airline said it will not operate services to and from Tbilisi in Georgia, Almaty in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Baku in Azerbaijan on January 26, 27 and 28.

Flights to these destinations typically pass through Iranian airspace, which IndiGo is currently avoiding due...

Samsung is preparing to unveil the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with growing agreement around the launch, pre-order and retail dates for its next flagship smartphone, Forbes reports. Industry commentator Ice Universe this week reinforced expectations that have been echoed by several publications.

Samsung is set to introduce the Galaxy S26 lineup at a Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25. The range will include the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the flagship model alongside the Galaxy S26+ and the standard Galaxy S26. Despite earlier speculation, Samsung is not expected to add a Pro or Edge variant this year, opting instead to retain...

Gold climbed to a record above $5,000 an ounce on January 26, extending a historic rally as investors sought safety amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

Spot gold rose 1.98% to $5,081.18 an ounce by 03:23 GMT after touching an intraday peak of $5,092.71. U.S. gold futures for February delivery gained 2.01% to $5,079.30.

According to Reuters, the latest surge reflects a growing crisis of confidence in the U.S. administration and American assets following erratic policy decisions last week.

U.S. President Donald Trump on January 21 abruptly stepped back from threats to impose tariffs on European allies as leverage over Greenland. Over...

European Council President Antonio Costa arrived in India on Sunday as the European Union and New Delhi push to finalise a long-awaited free trade agreement, aiming to conclude negotiations that have stretched for nearly two decades.

Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Monday, ahead of an EU–India summit scheduled for the following day. EU officials have described the proposed agreement as the «mother of all deals».

«The summit will be an opportunity to build on the EU–India strategic partnership...

A technical problem on a 220-kilovolt electricity transmission line importing power from Uzbekistan has caused widespread electricity shortages in Kabul, leaving residents with only a few hours of power each day, Afghan media reported.

According to TOLO News, cited by The Caspian Post, the disruption has significantly affected daily life in the Afghan capital. Residents say electricity is available for just three to five hours within a 24-hour period and is often unstable.

«We’re facing many problems due to power cuts. We’re students living in rented rooms, and we only get electricity for four to five hours a...

Turkish authorities have discovered the decapitated body of a woman, identified as a citizen of Uzbekistan, in a trash bin in Istanbul, local media reported.

According to Turkey’s Sabah newspaper, cited by Lenta.ru, the body was found in the Sisli district by a paper collector, who noticed a headless body wrapped in a sheet inside a garbage container.

Police later identified the victim through fingerprint analysis as 37-year-old Durdona Hakimova. Law enforcement officers cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.

Authorities have not yet disclosed details about possible suspects or...

Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a major travel destination for Japanese tourists, with visitor numbers from Japan surging by 162% in 2025, according to official data. More than 32,000 Japanese travelers visited the country last year, reflecting growing interest in Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage, modern infrastructure and improved accessibility.

The rise forms part of a broader tourism boom. In 2025, Uzbekistan welcomed nearly 12 million international visitors, reinforcing its position as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing tourism markets.

Officials attribute the sharp increase in Japanese arrivals to targeted promotion, visa liberalisation and infrastructure upgrades. Japanese travel agency Club Tourism...

Uzbekistan is expanding and upgrading its international railway corridors as part of a strategy to strengthen its position as a key transit hub linking Europe, Asia and South Asia, officials said.

The initiative aims to reduce transit times, improve trade flows and offer alternative routes between major global markets.

«We are actively opening new corridors with neighbouring countries and with Asia and Europe. The goal is to unlock the full potential of Uzbekistan as a transit hub, making trade faster, more efficient, and more accessible,» Deputy Minister of Transport Jasurbek Choriyev said.

Malaysia and Uzbekistan are strengthening their bilateral relationship through practical cooperation and shared long-term interests, underscored by a series of high-level visits focused on economic and digital development.

Uzbekistan’s engagement with Malaysia has gained renewed momentum following the country’s wide-ranging economic and institutional reforms launched in 2019. These changes have improved regulatory frameworks, strengthened private sector support and expanded opportunities for foreign partners.

Last week, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies visited Malaysia, while Syrdarya region governor Erkinjon Turdimov is scheduled to travel to the country next week. Officials say the visits reflect a focus on implementation and...

Kazakhstan has joined China, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan as one of the leading contributors to Azerbaijan’s growing tourism sector, underscoring positive trends for 2025 and the years ahead.

According to Azerbaijan’s State Statistics Committee, the country welcomed 2.57 mln foreign visitors in 2025, a modest 2.1% decline year-on-year. Despite the slight decrease, the tourism sector has shown resilience, supported by strong growth from emerging and neighbouring markets, particularly in Central Asia and Asia.

Russia remained the largest source of visitors, accounting for 23.9% of total arrivals, followed by Turkey with 17.7%. Other major contributors included Iran (8.1%), India...

Kazakhstan significantly increased grain export to Uzbekistan in 2025, with volumes rising by 32% year-on-year to 4.5 mln tons, according to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway company.

Overall freight traffic between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached 32.3 mln tons in 2025, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous year. Export shipments accounted for 13 million tons, up 8.5% year-on-year, KTZ said.

KTZ transported a total of 319.9 mln tons of cargo across its network in 2025, representing a 5.5% increase from 2024. Export volumes rose by 7.1% to 89.2 mln tons, reflecting strong demand for...

Uzbekistan has adopted new legislation regulating the use of artificial intelligence, introducing fines for the unlawful processing of personal data and banning legally binding decisions made solely by AI systems.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed Law No. ZRU-1115, amending the Law On Informatisation and establishing a legal framework for the development and application of artificial intelligence technologies in the country.

The law defines artificial intelligence as a set of technological solutions that enable systems to imitate human knowledge and skills, independently learn, search for solutions, and generate results comparable to human intellectual activity in specific tasks. It also outlines...

At least seven people have been killed and more than 80 others are missing after a landslide struck Indonesia’s West Java province.

The landslide hit the West Bandung area, south-east of Jakarta, after several days of heavy rainfall. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said more than 30 homes were destroyed when landslide material swept through residential areas, causing deaths and displacing residents.

The slide occurred in the village of Pasirlangu at about 2:30 am local time on January 24. Officials have also issued flood, landslide and extreme weather warnings for surrounding areas.

Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Search Agency...

A 12-year-old Australian boy has died in hospital after being bitten by a shark in Sydney Harbour. His family announced this on January 24, amid heightened concern following a spate of shark attacks along Australia’s east coast.

Nico Antic was attacked on January 18 while jumping off rocks with friends in the Vaucluse area, about 9 km from Sydney’s central business district. He was pulled from the water by his friends and rushed to hospital with critical injuries to both legs.

In a statement, the family said they were devastated by his death. They described Nico as a cheerful...

Uzbekistan rose five places in the Global Firepower ranking of the world’s strongest militaries, placing 53rd out of 145 countries.

Global Firepower estimates that nearly 19 mln people in Uzbekistan fall within labour and mobilisation resources, with about 15.9 mln deemed fit for military service. By this measure, the country ranks among global leaders. The armed forces number about 120,000 active personnel, with roughly 95,000 serving in the ground forces and the remainder in the air force.

Uzbekistan’s military operates 159 aircraft, 87 of which are considered combat-ready. The air force fleet includes 101 helicopters, among them 34 attack...

Uzbek entrepreneurs will be able to access more loans for business development this year. A total of 140 trln soums ($11.6 bn), has been allocated for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

The president noted that loan interest rates are currently the same across all regions at 17.5%.

«But conditions and opportunities differ greatly between districts. That is why loans are issued at 12% in 37 ‘difficult’ districts,» he said.

The maximum amount of a concessional loan for family businesses will increase by 1.5 times to 50 mln soums...

Netflix has delayed its live special «Skyscraper Live,» which follows free solo climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to scale Taipei 101, after rain forced a last-minute postponement.

The streamer said the event could not proceed as planned because of weather concerns and has been rescheduled for January 24 at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT, which will be January 25 morning in Taiwan. Netflix said safety remains its top priority.

Producers had previously warned that weather could disrupt the climb despite January being Taiwan’s dry season. Rain was forecast around the scheduled start time, prompting the delay...

Meta Platforms said it will suspend teenagers’ access to its existing AI characters across all of its apps worldwide while it develops an updated version designed specifically for younger users.

In an updated blog post on child protection, the company said teens will lose access to AI characters in the coming weeks and will not regain it until the new experience is ready. Meta said the revised version will include parental controls once it is launched.

In October, Meta previewed tools that would allow parents to disable private chats between their teenagers and AI characters. The move followed strong...

A court in Dubai has sentenced citizens of Uzbekistan, handing eight of them life imprisonment and one person 25 years behind bars. The Uzbek foreign ministry has confirmed the verdict.

«Currently our authorities and diplomatic missions are carefully studying the situation and taking all measures to protect the rights of our citizens,» the ministry said.

The incident took place in Dubai in April 2025, when a fight broke out between two groups. Two Uzbek nationals were killed. Authorities detained 11 people in connection with the incident. Police said the conflict stemmed from a...

Cha Eun Woo’s agency Fantagio has issued an official response to reports alleging the singer and actor was involved in large-scale tax evasion.

On January 22, a media report claimed that Cha, a member of ASTRO, was investigated last year by Investigation Bureau 4 of the Seoul Regional Tax Office on suspicion of tax evasion. The report said the National Tax Service informed him of an additional tax assessment exceeding 20 bn won, or about $13.6 mln, covering income tax and other levies.

Corporation A

According to the report, tax authorities questioned the structure of Cha’s earnings. Although...