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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...

Uzbekistan is accelerating its push for greener transport, aiming for electric vehicles (EVs) to make up 10% of the country’s passenger car fleet by 2030. The goal is part of the updated Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, which sets out a five-year roadmap for expanding EV adoption.

Under the plan, electric cars are expected to account for just under 2% of all passenger vehicles in 2026, rising to around 3% in 2027, 5% in 2028, and 7% in 2029. By 2030, one in every ten cars on Uzbek roads could be fully electric, a fivefold increase from current levels.

According to...

Azerbaijan has extradited an Iranian citizen who was on an international wanted list to Uzbekistan, the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office reported.

The individual, identified as Imami Ali Abdollah, born in 1970, faced international charges related to fraud. Iranian prosecutors submitted a formal extradition request, which Azerbaijani authorities reviewed and approved.

Law enforcement officers located and detained Abdollah in Azerbaijan in 2025. After completing the required legal procedures, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office authorised his extradition under the October 7, 2002 Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters.

Officials from the Penitentiary...

An Uzbek–Chinese archaeological expedition has uncovered fragments of ancient defensive walls belonging to the Kuva settlement in the Fergana Valley. The structures date from the 3rd century BC to the 10th century AD.

The discovery comes from the joint Luoyang–Fergana expedition. Researchers describe the find as important physical evidence of the development of a Silk Road city and of long-standing connections between East and West.

The Kuva ancient settlement covers about 110,000 square metres in eastern Uzbekistan. In antiquity, the region served as a major Silk Road hub and maintained contacts with China for more than...

Uzbekistan’s economy expanded by an estimated 7.3% in 2025, according to preliminary UN calculations published in the report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026.

The UN expects GDP growth to slow to 6% this year and to 5.9% in 2026. Inflation was estimated at 9% at the end of last year and is forecast to ease to 7.1% in 2026 and 5.6% in 2027.

UN experts said Uzbekistan along with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan continued to benefit from higher gold prices, large-scale infrastructure investment and the expansion of the tourism sector.

Over the first 11 months of last year, Uzbekistan...

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...