News

Saudi-backed Midad Energy has signed a term sheet to acquire Russia’s Lukoil assets affected by Western sanctions, competing with rivals including private equity firm Carlyle Group. The agreement, reached in late January, covers all targeted assets and is conditional on approval from U.S. regulators, Reuters reports.

Under the deal, Midad will place its all-cash offer in escrow while seeking the necessary clearances, including from the U.S. Treasury. This approach aims to secure the transaction while adhering to sanctions restrictions. A source close to the negotiations described the bid as «high-stakes» and backed by strong political connections in...

Uzbekistan has seen a significant increase in enterprises with foreign investment over the past five years, nearly doubling to 18,500, according to the State Statistics Committee.

As of February 1, 2026, the country hosts 14,200 fully foreign-owned companies and 4,300 joint ventures. China leads with 5,200 companies, followed by Russia with 3,200 and Turkey with 2,100.

Other major investors include Kazakhstan with 1,200 companies, South Korea with 699, Afghanistan with 647, the United Arab Emirates with 413, Tajikistan with 410, India with 394, and Azerbaijan with 368.

The data highlights Uzbekistan’s growing attractiveness for foreign investors and the expanding...

The family of actor James Van Der Beek has received an outpouring of support following his death at the age of 48.

Van Der Beek, best known for starring in Dawson’s Creek, died on February 11 after a battle with colorectal cancer. In the days after the news broke, friends set up a GoFundMe account to help his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children.

By February 12, the campaign had raised $1 mln, surpassing the original target of $250,000. The goal was later increased to $1.3 mln. The fundraising page explained that the family faced financial...

Uzbekistan is preparing to gradually replace state control with a system of market supervision, authorities said during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A draft law on «Market Control» has already been prepared.

The reform also targets outdated standards. Currently, Uzbekistan has over 33,000 standards, around half of which do not meet international requirements. Plans include cancelling six technical regulations and revising 29 more. This year, 4,460 international standards are set to be introduced, with more than 2,500 to follow in 2027 and another 817 by 2028.

From July 2026, international standards will be implemented in textiles, leather, furniture...

Uzbekistan’s real estate gathered momentum in January, with 28,600 sales transactions recorded during the month, almost 12% more than in the same period of 2024, according to the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms.

The strongest growth was reported in Tashkent, where the number of deals jumped by 33.4%. Solid increases were also seen in Samarkand region, up 26%, and Syrdarya region, which rose 24%.

Prices Edge Up on Secondary Market

Price growth in the secondary housing market remained moderate. Across Uzbekistan, the average price per square metre increased by 0.9% month on month and by 8% year...

Anthropic has secured $30 bn in fresh funding, more than doubling its valuation to $380 bn and highlighting strong investor appetite for artificial intelligence ventures.

The round, announced on February 12, was co-led by D. E. Shaw Ventures, ICONIQ and MGX. It also included previously disclosed investments from Microsoft and Nvidia. The company is backed by Google and Amazon.

In early September, Anthropic said it had raised $13 bn in a Series F round that valued the firm at $183 bn. The latest deal marks a sharp increase in its market worth.

Focus on Coding Drives Growth

Anthropic...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies has confirmed that personal data belonging to around 60,000 citizens was compromised following cyberattacks on three state information systems.

The disclosure was made during a press conference attended by Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov. The attacks took place between January 27 and 30.

Earlier reports circulating on social media had claimed that data belonging to 15 mln citizens had been leaked. The ministry rejected those claims as false.

Shermatov said unauthorised access to the affected information infrastructure had been blocked. User passwords for the unified identification system OneID were updated and additional safeguards were...

Italian short track legend Arianna Fontana extended her historic Olympic run on Thursday (12 February), claiming a silver medal in the women’s 500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The medal marks Fontana’s 13th Olympic podium finish, making her the most decorated short track speed skater in history and tying the overall Italian Olympic medal record set by fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

The 35-year-old, who made her Olympic debut as a 15-year-old at Turin 2006, has now won medals at six consecutive Winter Games. Earlier this week, she captured gold in the mixed team relay...

Two-time Olympic champion Sidney Crosby is once again leading Team Canada into battle, bringing what he describes as a «focused type of confidence» ahead of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has already claimed Olympic gold twice and remains one of the most accomplished players of his generation. Yet the veteran centreman insists past success guarantees nothing.

«We’re confident, but I think it’s a focused type of confidence,» Crosby said after practice at Milano Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday. «We believe...

One of the most talked-about names in international winter sport, Eileen Gu, continues to draw global attention — not only for her medals, but for the flag she represents.

Born and raised in San Francisco, the 22-year-old freestyle skiing sensation competes for China, the homeland of her mother, rather than the United States. Gu announced her decision in 2019, saying she hoped to help grow winter sports in China, adding that the US «already has the representation.»

Her citizenship choice quickly became a subject of debate in American media and politics. However, Gu has remained focused on competition...

Former French culture minister Jack Lang has resigned as president of the Institut du monde arabe after newly released U.S. justice department files detailed his past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The documents, part of a recent tranche of Epstein-related disclosures, show extensive correspondence between Lang and Epstein, including requests for private transport and expressions of gratitude for the financier’s «generosity.» In one 2017 message, Lang thanked Epstein and asked to borrow a chauffeur-driven car for a private event.

Lang, 86, has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal history at the time of their association, saying...

South Korea’s intelligence agency has concluded that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has effectively designated his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae as his successor, marking a significant shift in the country’s dynastic politics.

Lawmakers briefed by Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Kim Ju Ae has moved from being described as «in training» to the «successor-designate stage,» and is now considered the de facto second-highest figure in the regime. The assessment follows her increasingly prominent appearances at state events and indications she has begun offering input on policy matters.

Kim Ju Ae first appeared publicly in...

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram at Meta, testified in a major Los Angeles trial that he does not believe people can be clinically addicted to social media, pushing back against a key argument made by plaintiffs seeking to hold platforms responsible for harm to children.

The case centers on a 20-year-old plaintiff identified as «KGM,» whose lawsuit is seen as a bellwether for thousands of similar claims against social media companies. Meta and Google’s YouTube are the remaining defendants after TikTok and Snap reached settlements.

During testimony, Mosseri distinguished between clinical addiction and what he described as «problematic...

Germany’s hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party will attend this year’s Munich Security Conference after a two-year absence, prompting concerns from mainstream politicians about potential security risks.

The summit at Munich’s Hotel Bayerischer Hof is Europe’s leading defence forum, where sensitive discussions between global leaders often take place. Critics from the Greens, SPD and CSU have warned that AfD delegates could misuse access to confidential briefings, citing the party’s pro-Russian stance.

The AfD has rejected accusations of Kremlin ties as politically motivated. Its delegation will include MPs Rudiger Lucassen, Anna Rathert and Heinrich Koch, though co-leaders Alice Weidel

U.S. President Donald Trump’s $10 bn defamation lawsuit against the BBC will go to trial next year after a federal judge in Florida rejected the broadcaster’s bid to dismiss the case.

Court filings from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida show Judge Roy K Altman has scheduled the trial to begin on February 15, 2027. The lawsuit stems from a 2024 episode of Panorama that featured edited footage of Mr Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech.

The programme appeared to show Mr Trump urging supporters to march on the Capitol, using...

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timing sheets as second day of Bahrain pre-season testing concluded under the floodlights at Sakhir. The Monegasque driver’s morning benchmark of 1m 34.273s remained unbeaten throughout the afternoon and evening sessions, signalling a strong start for the Scuderia’s 2026 campaign.

While Ferrari enjoyed a smooth programme, the narrative elsewhere in the paddock was defined by reliability struggles and marathon stints. Lando Norris finished second fastest for McLaren, just over half a second adrift of Leclerc, but the reigning World Champion’s headline statistic was his mileage. Norris completed a staggering 144 laps, proving the durability...

Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics after refusing to remove a helmet paying tribute to athletes killed in the war with Russia.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that the design breached Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political demonstrations at Olympic venues. Heraskevych, 27, had insisted he would not «betray» those who lost their lives, even if it meant sacrificing his Olympic dream. His accreditation has been revoked.

Speaking after the decision, Heraskevych described a feeling of «emptiness,» arguing that other athletes had been allowed personalised helmet designs.

Charles Leclerc set the pace in the opening half of day two of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, as several leading teams encountered reliability concerns under the new 2026 regulations.

The Ferrari driver, running solo for the full day, posted a best time of 1m 34.273s to finish half a second clear of reigning World Champion Lando Norris. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was a distant third, with Oliver Bearman and Alexander Albon completing the top five.

Ferrari strong, McLaren busy

Ferrari enjoyed a smooth and productive morning, with Leclerc completing 62 laps and comfortably surpassing race distance. The...

Uzbekistan’s medal tally at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has received a boost after the International Skating Union revised its Olympic quota allocations, confirming Daniil Eybog’s participation in the 1500 metres.

The decision grants Uzbekistan an additional Olympic licence, with Eybog now set to compete in two events at the Games.

The 1500m race featuring the Uzbek skater is scheduled for February 14. Eybog had already secured qualification for the 500m distance, meaning he will represent his country in both sprint and middle-distance competitions in Milan and Cortina.

Kursiv also reports that Canada’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume...

A female teacher has died following a school shooting in Hat Yai district, southern Thailand, officials confirmed on February 12.

The teacher, Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, who also served as the school’s director, was shot by a 17-year-old student at Patongprathankiriwat School in Songkhla Province on February 11. The teenager used a firearm stolen from a police officer before being detained by authorities. A female student was also injured, though her condition has not been disclosed.

Sasiphat was taken to an intensive care unit for surgery but died around 2 am from internal injuries and severe blood loss, according to the...

EXO-CBX members Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin have had assets worth a total of 2.6 bn Korean won provisionally seized by SM Entertainment as part of an ongoing legal dispute over contracts and individual activity payments.

The seizure, carried out over two days on February 9 and 10, covers Chen’s housing deposit receivables, Baekhyun’s apartment in Acheon-dong, Guri City, and Xiumin’s apartment in Hannam-dong, Seoul. SM claims 300 mln won from Chen, 1.6 bn from Baekhyun and 700 mln from Xiumin. The measure prevents the trio from disposing of these assets and preserves claims tied to 10% of individual activity...

Uzbekistan has claimed 17th place out of 143 countries in the 2025 public safety ranking published by the World Justice Project, marking the highest result among Central Asian nations.

Kazakhstan ranked 42nd, followed by Kyrgyzstan in 61st place. Turkmenistan and Tajikistan did not appear in the survey. The top spots globally were held by Luxembourg, Singapore and Ireland, while Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan ranked lowest at 141st, 142nd and 143rd respectively.

The World Justice Project is an independent international organisation that evaluates the rule of law worldwide. Its annual Rule of Law Index draws on surveys of citizens and...

While representing Team U.S.A. on the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics, ice hockey player Aerin Frankel is also scoring points off the rink for her love of Caesar salad. Frankel runs a side Instagram account, @painbyromaine, with nearly 6,000 followers, where she reviews Caesar salads from around the world.

Her judging criteria are precise: well-dressed lettuce, generous cheese, and anchovies that complement the dish without overpowering it. Frankel’s reviews show Caesar salad can take many forms, from pizza to hot dogs, demonstrating that the classic dish is as versatile as it is beloved.

Fans of her home team, the...

Sanrio has announced that the role of Hello Kitty designer will pass from Yuko Yamaguchi, the third-generation designer, to a fourth-generation successor. Yamaguchi has led the character’s creation since 1980, making this the first designer change in 46 years.

Yamaguchi, who also serves as Sanrio’s Executive Director and Head of Character Creation, has been central to the development of Hello Kitty and other popular characters including Dear Daniel and Charmmy Kitty. She has actively engaged with fans through signings and collaborations with domestic and international artists, helping Hello Kitty become a beloved global icon.

The handover to the new...