News

Uzbekistan’s Central Bank registered 37 microfinance organisations (MFOs) in 2025 and issued operating licences to four payment organisations, according to the regulator’s annual report.

Over the year, the central bank also registered one microfinance bank and one credit bureau. Twelve auditors received permission to operate in Uzbekistan. The regulator granted 32 approvals for the acquisition of stakes in the charter capital of credit institutions. Most of these approvals were for microfinance organisations at 19, followed by banks with eight and pawnshops with four.

The banking licence of Eurasian Bank was revoked and work is currently under way to liquidate the...

Netflix has partnered with toy maker Hasbro to launch its first «KPop Demon Hunters» collaboration, releasing an official Monopoly Deal card game inspired by the animated film.

The partnership will feature the film’s characters across Hasbro’s board games, plush toys and electronics, including Nerf and Furby products. Hasbro has promised a «range of engaging collaborations designed to delight fans of all ages.»

The licensed card game follows the familiar Monopoly Deal format, with players racing to collect items needed by characters Rumi, Mira and Zoey to make their concert a success and seal the Honmoon. Released on January...

Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann held a solo concert in Tashkent on January 9 that went without the theatrical antics he displayed in Kazakhstan, where he threw fish and pies at the audience, according to RIA Novosti.

The show took place at Axelon Karting Centre, with organisers noting that around half the audience had travelled from abroad, mainly from Russia. Ticket prices started at 1.2 mln soums ($99), with VIP passes costing 4 mln soums ($330). Only adults were admitted.

The venue, with a capacity of 8,000, was around 80% full. During the performance, Lindemann encouraged the audience with shouts...

The European Union (EU) has finalised a free trade deal with South American countries 25 years after talks began, despite opposition from European farmers. The agreement with Mercosur, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, now requires European Parliament approval.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called it a “historic day for multilateralism”. The deal comes amid U.S. tariffs and recent military actions in Venezuela.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would bring “meaningful benefits to consumers and businesses, on both sides”. Critics warn that cheaper imports could harm European farmers producing beef, poultry and...

Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Edil Baysalov, has suggested reviewing the country’s visa-free arrangements with the United States following the introduction of a security deposit for Kyrgyz citizens, posting his remarks on social media platform X.

Baysalov argued that the new rules from the U.S. Department of State violate the principle of reciprocity. «Visa policy is a matter of mutual respect,» he wrote, emphasising that the measure could strain bilateral relations.

Some social media users expressed concern that Washington could respond by suspending visas for Kyrgyz citizens. Others suggested that improving diplomatic relations with the US should be a priority.

President Donald Trump says the United States needs to own Greenland to stop Russia and China from gaining influence there. He argues that countries can only properly defend territory they possess.

“You defend ownership. You don’t defend leases. And we’ll have to defend Greenland. If we don’t do it, China or Russia will,” Trump said.

He said the U.S. would have to defend Greenland and suggested it could be done «the easy way» or «the hard way».

Denmark Greenland and NATO push back

The White House has said the administration is considering buying...

The first on-track glimpse of a 2026 Formula 1 car has surfaced online, after footage of Audi’s private shakedown at Barcelona appeared on YouTube.

Audi’s new challenger, known as the R26, completed a limited number of laps at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The German manufacturer is the first team confirmed to have run a 2026-spec car ahead of a closed test scheduled for late January. Drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were due to share driving duties during a filming day aimed at testing Audi’s first in-house F1 power unit, as the former Sauber team transitions to its new...

U.S. forces have taken control of another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, officials said. Washington intensifies its campaign to curb Venezuelan oil exports under the Trump administration.

The vessel, the Olina, is listed under sanctions by several countries and marks the fifth tanker seized by the United States in recent weeks. U.S. authorities say the operation is part of a broader effort to pressure Venezuela’s interim government and dismantle what they describe as a shadow or dark fleet used to move sanctioned oil.

Dawn operation in Caribbean

U.S. Southern Command said the action sent a clear warning...

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced its nominees for the 37th Annual Producers Guild Awards, sharpening focus on the race for best picture ahead of Oscar voting.

The guild’s top honour, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, is widely seen as one of the strongest indicators of Academy Awards success. Seventeen of the past 22 winners have gone on to claim the Oscar for best picture.

Warner Bros. Leads Film Lineup

This year’s theatrical category features a mix of prestige directors and commercial titles, with Warner Bros. securing three nominations...

Travellers to the Faroe Islands are discovering a unique attraction beneath the North Atlantic: the world’s first underwater roundabout.

Located inside the Eysturoy Tunnel, which opened in December 2020, the submerged junction has dramatically reduced travel times across the remote archipelago. The tunnel links the capital, Torshavn, with towns on the island of Eysturoy, cutting the journey to the village of Runavík from more than an hour to around 16 minutes.

The Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, sit between Scotland and Iceland and are known for challenging weather conditions. To improve connectivity, authorities...

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Washington may be forced to choose between maintaining the NATO alliance and pursuing control of Greenland, escalating tensions with European allies over the Arctic territory.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump said «it may be a choice» if the United States were to pick between NATO and Greenland, arguing that the alliance would be ineffective without US leadership.

«If you look at NATO, Russia is not at all concerned with any other country but us,» he said, adding that European allies needed to «shape up.»

In an...

One of the owners of a Swiss bar where a deadly fire killed 40 people during a New Year’s Eve party has been arrested, as Switzerland observed a national day of mourning for the victims.

Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, was detained on Friday in the nearby city of Sion over concerns he might flee the country, according to local media. Swiss prosecutors are investigating the bar’s French owners on suspicion of homicide by negligence, while families of the victims have filed legal complaints.

The fire, which broke out...

A new biopic chronicling the life of former world boxing champion Prince Naseem Hamed is released in UK cinemas today, reigniting public interest in the fighter’s rise to fame and controversial personal history.

Titled Giant, the film charts Hamed’s journey from a Sheffield childhood to global stardom, with James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan portraying his long-time trainer Brendan Ingle. Hamed, now 51, was introduced to boxing at the age of seven at Ingle’s Wincobank gym, later turning professional at 18 and winning the WBO featherweight title in 1995.

Known for his flamboyant ring entrances and knockout power, Hamed...

Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned that the recent US military operation in Venezuela could have serious long-term consequences for the international order, adding to growing criticism from Asian nations.

Speaking at a regional outlook forum in Singapore on Thursday, Mr Lee said that internal political crises could not justify «unilateral military intervention» without proper authorisation. While the operation may have appeared to be a «spectacular military success,» he cautioned that it set a worrying precedent for smaller countries.

«From the point of view of a small country, if that’s the...

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may be preparing to flee the country as nationwide protests demanding regime change continue to escalate.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Trump said Khamenei was «looking to go someplace» amid reports he could seek refuge in Russia, adding that Iran appeared to be on the «verge of collapsing.» His comments came as millions of Iranians took to the streets following calls for mass demonstrations by Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah.

Protesters have reportedly chanted slogans including «death to Khamenei,» while clashes with security forces...

The car in which Michael Schumacher secured his first Formula 1 victory, the 1992 Benetton B192, has been listed for auction via Broad Arrow Auctions. An estimated price is €8.5 mln, Motorsport reports.

Schumacher began the 1992 season driving an updated B191, but Benetton introduced the B192 at the fourth round in Spain. Paired with Martin Brundle, Schumacher claimed his maiden grand prix win at the Belgian Grand Prix in chassis number 05.

Designed by Rory Byrne under Ross Brawn, the B192 proved highly competitive, delivering 11 podium finishes, one win, and two fastest laps between Schumacher and...

Beverage production in Uzbekistan totalled 26.9 trln soums ($2.22 bn) from January to November 2025. This marks a 4% increase compared with the previous year, the State Statistics Committee reports.

The largest volumes came from the capital, Tashkent, which produced 16.6 trln soums ($1.37 bn), followed by Tashkent region with 4.5 trln ($371.8 mln) and Khorezm region at 2.2 trln soums ($181.8 mln).

The lowest production levels were recorded in Navoi region at just 25.7 bn soums ($2.12 mln), Jizzakh at 51.3 bn ($4.24 mln) and Syrdarya at 85.1 bn soums ($7.03 mln).

More than 438,300 citizens of Uzbekistan activated a self-imposed ban on taking out loans in 2025, according to data from the Credit Information and Analytical Centre.

The figure marks a sharp rise from 284,700 users recorded as of December 1 last year, reflecting growing public interest in the service.

People aged 26 to 35 accounted for the largest share of users as of January 1, with more than 144,600 individuals opting in. This was followed by those aged 35 to 45 at 106,600 users and people under 26 at 94,700. Uptake was lowest among citizens aged over 56, with...

South Korea’s special prosecutor is expected to seek the death penalty or life imprisonment for former president Yoon Suk Yeol on insurrection charges. Lower court convened its final hearing on Friday over his brief imposition of martial law in 2024.

Yoon, 65, is accused of orchestrating an insurrection by attempting to suspend parliament and seize legislative powers. Under South Korean law, the charges carry a maximum penalty of death or life in prison, although the country has observed an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997.

Prosecutors allege plot to suspend parliament

According to prosecutors, Yoon aimed to label...

Most residents of Greenland have expressed opposition to joining the United States, with 85% saying they do not want to become American citizens, according to a Financial Times report citing a Verian survey.

Respondents cited Denmark’s higher standard of living as the main reason for rejecting U.S. citizenship. Other concerns included high crime rates in the United States and expensive healthcare. Only a small fraction of participants expressed support for a potential change in nationality.

The report also considered a hypothetical scenario in which the U.S. might try to win over Greenland’s 57,000 residents by offering American passports and...

Uzbek authorities have begun a review of several cryptocurrencies listed on the UzNex exchange, including tokens A, KWAV, KBH, KHAI, AMF, and the Trump-themed meme coin TRUMP, according to a notice on the platform.

Kursiv Uzbekistan sent inquiries to the National Agency of Prospective Projects and UzNex to determine the reasons for the review and its expected duration.

The Trump-linked tokens were created in 2025 with support from the former US president’s election team. The meme coins OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) and OFFICIAL MELANIA (MELANIA) were launched and promoted actively via the personal social media accounts of Donald and Melania...

Chinese sportswear company Anta Sports Products has made an offer to purchase 29% of Puma from France’s Pinault family, Reuters reports.

The bid was made a few weeks ago, and Anta has secured financing for the deal if it proceeds, two sources added. However, one source said negotiations have stalled.

Artemis, the investment vehicle of Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman of Kering, which owns Gucci, acquired the Puma stake in 2018 when Kering shifted to focus exclusively on luxury. Artemis and Puma declined to comment, and Anta did not respond immediately.

Puma shares jumped as much as 9% following the news...

Six whales have died on a remote beach in New Zealand’s South Island following a mass stranding, while volunteers work urgently to save 15 others that remain alive.

About 55 pilot whales washed up on Farewell Spit on Thursday. Most were able to return to the sea, but 15 have restranded and are scattered along roughly 1 km of the beach.

Project Jonah, a marine mammal rescue charity, shared video showing volunteers pouring buckets of water over the whales to keep them cool.

«When the tide comes in, we have to act quickly to gather...

Rio Tinto has entered early-stage discussions on a possible acquisition of Glencore. This move could create the world’s largest mining group with a combined market value of nearly $207 bn.

The talks come as major miners seek to expand exposure to metals such as copper, which is expected to see strong demand from the energy transition and the growth of artificial intelligence. Industry consolidation has accelerated, with large players pursuing expansions and takeovers to secure future supply.

Deal Likely to Be All-Share

Rio Tinto and Glencore said a potential transaction would likely take the form of an all-share...