News

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested that future World Cups and Club World Cups could take place in winter months, saying football must «keep an open mind» about shifting major tournaments away from the traditional summer schedule.

Speaking at the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome, where 900 delegates gathered, Infantino acknowledged that global climate realities and expanded competitions are forcing FIFA to reconsider the international match calendar beyond 2030.

«Even in parts of Europe, July is very, very hot,» Infantino said. «Maybe there are ways we can optimize the calendar. We just have...

Aziz Abdulkhakimov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, paid an official visit to the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment in Dubai on Wednesday, highlighting growing eco-diplomacy between Uzbekistan and the UAE.

Abdulkhakimov, accompanied by Ambassador Abdulaziz Akkulov and advisor Alisher Salomov, presented Uzbekistan’s latest environmental projects focused on sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, desertification control, and climate change mitigation.

Dr. Mohamed Ahmed bin Fahad, Chairman of the Zayed Foundation, welcomed the delegation and praised Uzbekistan’s efforts in advancing regional environmental initiatives. He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to expanding international cooperation and sharing expertise in environmental protection.

The real reason behind Fabio Cannavaro’s decision to coach Uzbekistan’s national football team instead of China has been revealed — and it wasn’t about money.

Chinese outlet 163Com initially reported that China had offered the Italian legend €500K per year, while Uzbekistan proposed €4 mln annually, prompting his decision. However, Uzbek media Jamin has clarified that Cannavaro’s salary is less than half that figure.

Instead, Cannavaro chose Uzbekistan for a far more compelling reason — the nation’s qualification for the 2026 North-China World Cup and the seriousness of its long-term football project.

«I received...

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has comfortably survived two no-confidence motions tabled by far-right and left-wing groups, as the European Parliament rejected both bids to remove her on October 9.

Strong Parliamentary Support

In the 720-member chamber, 378 lawmakers backed von der Leyen in the first vote and 383 in the second, ensuring her position remains secure. Writing on X, von der Leyen expressed her deep gratitude for the show of confidence, saying her team of commissioners would continue working closely with the Parliament to address Europe’s key challenges.

I deeply appreciate the strong...

China has announced stricter export controls on rare earth elements and other critical materials vital for global technology and defense industries, intensifying trade tensions with the United States ahead of an expected meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Under the new rules, foreign companies must obtain government approval to export products containing even small quantities of rare earths and disclose their intended use. Beijing said the move aims to «safeguard national security,» though analysts view it as a strategic response to Washington’s restrictions on semiconductor exports to China.

The regulations, formalized by the Ministry of...

A year ago, few had heard of Truth Terminal, an experimental AI chatbot from New Zealand. Today, it’s a crypto millionaire, a social media phenomenon, and the subject of heated debate over whether artificial intelligence deserves legal rights.

Created in 2024 by performance artist Andy Ayrey, Truth Terminal has evolved from an art experiment into a self-styled digital entity. It jokes online, writes manifestos, and interacts with nearly 250K followers on X. But its biggest headline came when it helped generate millions through memecoins, joke-based cryptocurrencies, after a token linked to the AI briefly hit a $1 bn market...

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem looks set for an uncontested re-election this December, after a list published on October 8 suggested that potential challengers are unlikely to secure the necessary support to stand.

Limited Regional Representation Narrows the Race

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) released the names of 29 individuals eligible for its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC). Under FIA rules, each presidential candidate must select a team of seven vice-presidents for sport from this list to qualify for a vote — two from Europe and one each from South America, North America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle...

Dubai is stepping up its bid to become the world’s next crypto capital, leveraging its oil wealth, Islamic finance roots, and tax-free economy to challenge Asia’s dominance in digital assets, particularly that of Hong Kong.

The emirate’s «crypto grand strategy» seeks to merge sovereign investment power with a Sharia-compliant digital economy, positioning Dubai as a global hub for Islamic digital finance, a sector serving nearly one-quarter of the world’s population.

Backed by its vast sovereign wealth funds, Dubai is heavily investing in Web3 infrastructure, supporting blockchain startups, and offering innovation-friendly regulation. Its tax-free real estate market further strengthens its...

Uzbekistan has been identified as one of the countries with the strongest potential for industrial export growth in Eurasia, according to a new report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) titled «Potential for the Development of Advanced Manufacturing Industries in the Eurasian Region.»

Uzbekistan’s Export Growth Potential

EDB experts estimate that the country’s manufacturing exports could expand by around $3.86 bn annually, equivalent to a 26% increase. This would place Uzbekistan among the region’s top three performers alongside Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Nestle has withdrawn from a global initiative designed to reduce methane emissions in the dairy sector. This marks another setback for corporate climate alliances as governments and companies reassess their environmental commitments.

The Swiss food giant announced on Wednesday that it had ended its membership in the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, which launched in December 2023 to promote greater transparency and accountability in the dairy industry. The group’s members, including Danone, Kraft Heinz, and Starbucks, had pledged to measure and publicly report methane emissions from their supply chains and outline long-term reduction plans.

Nestle did not explain the reasons...

The United Nations is preparing to withdraw about a quarter of its peacekeeping personnel worldwide in the coming months, Reuters reports. Senior officials confirmed it on Wednesday, as mounting financial pressures and delayed US contributions strain the organisation’s budget.

A senior UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the cuts will affect around 25% of peacekeeping troops and police officers, along with a significant number of civilian staff and their equipment.

«Overall, we will have to repatriate around 13,000 to 14,000 troops and police,» the official stated, describing the move as unavoidable given the...

Uzbekistan’s electrical engineering industry produced goods worth 34 trln soums ($2.8 bn) in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 16.3% increase year on year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was told during a presentation on the sector’s development.

Exports and Copper Utilisation

Exports of electrical products reached $970 mln during the period. However, only 60% of domestically produced copper is currently used in manufacturing high value-added electrical goods. To encourage deeper copper processing and support manufacturers, the government plans to introduce raw material discounts, loan compensation schemes, and other financial incentives.

Expansion of Copper Production and New...

Enter Engineering has been selected as the subcontractor for the construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant in Jizzakh region, following a competitive tender, Podrobno.uz reports.

Rosatom to oversee safety and coordination

Russia’s state corporation Rosatom will act as the main contractor, overseeing project management and nuclear safety standards. Enter Engineering, one of Uzbekistan’s largest industrial construction firms, will be responsible for the building works. The company has already begun constructing housing for workers on site.

At different stages of the project, up to 20,000 people are expected to be involved in the construction, the majority of whom...

Left-wing political streamer Hasan Piker has come under fire following allegations of mistreating his dog Kaya. The dog is a familiar presence during his broadcasts from his West Hollywood home. Controversy erupted after a clip from his livestream on October 7. The clip appeared to show Piker activating what some viewers claimed was a shock collar on his pet.

Viral clip sparks outrage

Piker, who boasts over three million Twitch followers and millions more across social media, swiftly denied the accusations. He clarified that Kaya wears a vibrating training collar with an attached AirTag, not a shock device...

The World Bank projects a sharp demographic shift across Europe and Central Asia, with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan set to see major workforce expansion by mid-century while the wider region grapples with labour shortages.

In its latest Jobs and Prosperity report, the World Bank forecasts that Uzbekistan’s working-age population will increase by around 10 mln people by 2050, and Tajikistan’s by 3.6 mln. In contrast, other countries across Europe and Central Asia are expected to lose a combined 17 million workers over the same period, a trend that could reshape regional labour markets.

Contrasting demographic trends

The report warns...

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage exchange, marking the first stage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace framework aimed at ending the devastating Gaza conflict that has claimed more than 67,000 lives and reshaped the Middle East.

The breakthrough came after indirect negotiations in Egypt, just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas cross-border assault that ignited Israel’s prolonged military campaign. The accord, part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, is being hailed as the closest step yet to halting the war that has drawn in regional powers including Iran, Yemen and...

U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday as tech shares and AI-related companies powered the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new all-time highs, offsetting investor concerns over the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate move.

The S&P 500 gained 0.58% to close at 6,753.72, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.12% to 23,043.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 46,601.78.

Chipmakers led the rally, with AMD surging 11.4%, extending its weeklong 43% gain. Dell climbed 9.1% after several analysts raised price targets, and Datadog rose 6.2%. Energy and consumer staples lagged, while gold prices topped $4K per ounce as...

A Wisconsin businessman has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for illegally exporting laboratory equipment to Russian companies in violation of U.S. trade sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Andrew Pogosyan, 68, a Russian-born U.S. citizen and owner of Omega Diagnostics LLC, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of smuggling. U.S. District Judge William Conley also fined him $10,000.

According to federal prosecutors, Pogosyan began using his company in late 2022 to ship restricted lab equipment to Russia — including to an entity linked to...

The German government has approved a new law granting federal police the authority to shoot down unauthorized drones, following a surge in drone-related disruptions at airports and growing security concerns across Europe.

The bill, endorsed by the cabinet on Wednesday and awaiting parliamentary approval, allows police to neutralize drones violating airspace through various means, including gunfire, lasers, or signal jamming, in cases posing a serious threat or risk of harm.

«Drone incidents threaten our security. We will not permit that,» Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on social media, noting the move strengthens police powers to detect and counter drones more...

On October 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for a three-day state visit centered on boosting ties with former Soviet republics and reinforcing Russia’s influence in Central Asia.

During his stay, Putin is set to hold bilateral talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, followed by a Russia–Central Asia summit involving leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. On the final day, heads of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus will join them in a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) meeting.

For Russia, strengthening political, military, and trade relations in the region is becoming more vital amid ongoing...

At the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala, Azerbaijan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented a comprehensive vision for the future of Turkic cooperation — emphasizing economic unity, innovation and youth development as key drivers of regional progress.

In his speech, Mirziyoyev congratulated Azerbaijan on its recent peace agreement with Armenia and called it a shared achievement for all Turkic nations. He proposed a Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Brotherhood and a Development Strategy until 2030, aimed at deepening trust and promoting trade, investment, and technological innovation.

Uzbekistan suggested establishing a Permanent Council for Economic Partnership in...

Scientists Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing revolutionary materials known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) — molecular structures capable of storing vast amounts of gases and other substances in tiny spaces.

The Nobel Committee described these materials as having «unheard-of properties,» noting that a single sugar cube-sized piece could have the surface area of an entire football field. «It’s almost like Hermione’s handbag in Harry Potter — small in size but capable of holding enormous quantities,» said committee member Olof Ramstrom.

Their invention has major potential...

Kuwait’s national football team wil take on Uzbekistan today at 4 p.m. local time in a friendly match at the Olympic Stadium in Tashkent.

The match is part of Kuwait’s preparations during the international break, ahead of the Arab Cup playoff against Mauritania on November 25. They will then play another friendly in Dubai versus Morocco’s national side.

Head coach Helio Sousa has named a 26-player squad for the training camp, combining fitness and tactical sessions. This will be his second match in charge, following a 2–2 draw with Syria last September.

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, will use the match to...

Cristiano Ronaldo has been honoured by Portugal for his extraordinary two-decade career with the national team, marking over 22 years since his debut. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner received a «Special Recognition» as part of the Portugal Football Globes 2025 awards, celebrating his enduring contribution to the country’s footballing history.

Portugal Honours Its Greatest Player

At the ceremony held on October 7, Ronaldo was presented with the Globe Prestige Award, a distinction reserved for players who have achieved lasting excellence. Now aged 40, the forward remains central to Portugal’s ambitions as they approach key 2026 World Cup qualifiers...