World

The major Dutch construction company MMBS Groep has announced plans to hire up to 6,000 workers and specialists from Uzbekistan in the near future. This was revealed during a meeting between the company's leadership and Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Brussels, Gayrat Fozilov. The meeting, which also included the manager of the Bouwmensen Amsterdam education center, focused on strengthening cooperation in labor migration, simplifying visa procedures, and developing labor migration programs between Uzbekistan and the Netherlands.

According to the National Committee on Statistics, Uzbekistan's export volume in January 2026 amounted to $1.7 billion. This figure represents a 26.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year, indicating a positive trend in economic growth.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has accused the United States and South Korea of “destroying the stability” of East Asia. Her remarks came as the two countries commenced their annual 10-day joint military exercises, known as “Freedom Shield,” on the Korean Peninsula, which she claims pose a direct threat to North Korea's security.

Surging energy prices caused by the US-Israel war on Iran are rippling across the United States economy, heaping further strain on consumers at a time when cost-of-living issues are already a primary concern. The price of crude oil increased from about $67 per barrel before the war began on February 28 to nearly $97 on Monday, as the conflict disrupts production and transport in one of the most energy-rich regions on earth. Oil temporarily passed $100 per barrel on Sunday before slightly easing back.

The National Art Museum named after Bogdan and Varvara Khanenko in Kyiv, Ukraine, holds unique exhibits related to Amir Timur and the culture of the Timurid era. The museum’s collection includes approximately 40 items from this period, such as glazed hemispherical ceramic pieces: bowls and tableware decorated with black, blue, and turquoise patterns under transparent glaze.

US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with additional military strikes if Tehran moves to halt oil shipments through the critical Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that such an action would bring "death, fire and fury" upon Iran, rendering the country "virtually impossible" to ever rebuild. He added that he hopes this scenario does not materialize. The threat comes amid the ongoing joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which has escalated regional tensions significantly.

Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover in January 2026 amounted to $5.8 billion, as reported by the National Committee on Statistics. The country's main trading partners remain China and Russia, which account for nearly half of the total trade volume, highlighting the continued reliance on these key economic relationships amid global uncertainties.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the ruling Taliban movement in Afghanistan of holding American citizens as leverage and employing “terrorist tactics,” including kidnapping for ransom or policy concessions. Rubio demanded an end to the practice of “hostage diplomacy” and warned that Afghanistan is unsafe for American travelers, highlighting the regime’s alleged use of detention as a political tool.

Itamar Greenberg, a 19-year-old Israeli anti-war activist, has been spat on in the street and targeted by online hate campaigns. He described his stance as rare in current Israeli society, where public clamor for war is growing. When asked if he should be afraid, he responded: “Yes! If I thought about it, I probably should be. I just don’t have time.”

Leaders from the United States and the European Union have recently made a series of statements aimed at bolstering their economic policies. They purportedly plan to launch new initiatives with the goal of stabilizing the global economy and creating jobs in their regions. However, these claims are met with skepticism, as previous similar efforts have often failed to deliver the promised outcomes, raising questions about the feasibility and sincerity of the latest announcements.

Iranian state media reported that hundreds of thousands of people participated in organized rallies on Monday in support of the country's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. This event occurred nine days after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Attendees repeatedly pledged allegiance to the 56-year-old Mojtaba, a move that proceeded despite U.S. President Donald Trump's statements rejecting the appointment and threats of strikes as part of the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

In the latest escalation of the US-Israel war on Iran, nearly 62 million people living in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been caught in the crossfire. These nations—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—are known for their economic opportunities but are now facing direct impacts from the regional conflict.