News

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 31-year-old Akhror Bozorov, an Uzbek national wanted in Uzbekistan on terrorism-related charges.

Authorities in Uzbekistan issued an arrest warrant for Bozorov in 2022, alleging he was involved with a terrorist organisation, distributing propaganda online, and recruiting others to join extremist activities.

ICE took Bozorov into custody in Kansas on November 9, where he had been working as a commercial truck driver. He had received a commercial driver’s licence in Pennsylvania and was granted work authorisation in the United States in January 2024.

Bozorov...

Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley will host and narrate a series of ten short documentaries for the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Established by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the centre is one of the region’s largest cultural and educational initiatives.

In the ‘Whisper of Wisdom’ series, Kingsley highlights Uzbekistan as the homeland of great minds such as Mirzo Ulugbek, Al-Khwarizmi, Amir Timur, Avicenna and Alisher Navoi, showcasing their contributions to science, mathematics, literature and philosophy.

«We reveal the history of those who shaped Islamic civilisation,» Kingsley says. «Uzbekistan preserves the legacy of great scientists...

President Donald Trump has announced that US embassies will prioritise visa appointments for travellers holding tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

Under the FIFA Prioritised Appointment Scheduling System (PASS), ticket-holders experiencing long wait times can request a prioritised interview through FIFA, Trump said at the White House on Monday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised that holding a World Cup ticket does not automatically grant a tourist visa. However, foreign nationals with tickets may be able to secure an embassy or consulate interview within six to eight weeks of applying.

«Your ticket is not a...

Pakistan’s state-owned National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will launch a branch in Uzbekistan as part of a wider effort to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. The decision was announced during a meeting between Haroon Akhtar Khan, the special assistant to the prime minister on industries and production, and Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Alisher Takhtaev.

During the talks, the State Bank of Pakistan confirmed that banking and financial integration issues would be addressed swiftly. Both sides agreed to aim for bilateral trade of $2 bn, giving particular attention to textiles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, mining, and information technology. The...

Allied Biofuels FE LLC and India’s Praj Industries Ltd have signed an MoU to establish Central Asia’s biggest ethanol production complex in Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region. The plant, built on Praj’s technology platform, will produce 890 tonnes of 95% ethanol per day, equal to 293,700 tonnes a year, and will capture biogenic CO₂ generated through the first-generation process.

Ethanol from this 1G stage will supply Allied Biofuels’ output of 160,400 tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) a year along with 5,040 tonnes of Green Diesel. The refinery will also blend biogenic CO₂ with syngas from gasification and green hydrogen...

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to raise their bilateral trade turnover to $2 bn by expanding the range of goods on offer and making fuller use of free trade arrangements. The agreement was reached during talks between Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkmenistan’s president Serdar Berdymukhamedov.

The two leaders also discussed the launch of the Shavat–Dashoguz cross-border trade zone and agreed to extend this model to other areas, including the Alat–Farab corridor. Both presidents welcomed strong progress in the energy sector and said cooperation would now move towards larger joint ventures, including shared development of natural resources.

They also...

An Uzbek citizen who filed a discrimination complaint against Wizz Air at the European Court of Human Rights has refused a €120,000 compensation offer from the airline.

Sukhrob Ubaydullaev told Kun.uz that Wizz Air contacted him after British lawyers initiated formal correspondence with the company. The airline proposed a large payout on the condition that he withdraw his complaint and stop speaking publicly about the incident.

«They called me while I was in London and offered €120,000 without any apology, asking me not to raise the issue again,» Ubaydullaev said. «I consulted with my...

Luke Littler has officially claimed the world No.1 ranking in darts, completing one of the sport’s most extraordinary rises just 22 months after turning professional.

The 18-year-old, who shocked the darts world as a teenage newcomer in late 2023, will top the PDC standings on Monday after securing a place in the Grand Slam of Darts final. His decisive 16–9 semi-final win over Dutch contender Danny Noppert, featuring a 102.62 average, sealed his leap to the top.

Littler’s ascent has been meteoric. He arrived at the 2023 World Championship as an unknown 16-year-old and now holds both the world...

Robbie Williams says he believes the weight-loss injections he has used for several years may be affecting his eyesight.

The singer told The Sun that he has experienced increasing blurriness, a side effect he suspects may be linked to the jabs. «I want to warn people… make sure they do their research,» he said, noting that he can no longer clearly see individual fans at concerts and recently struggled to distinguish football players on the pitch. He has since had to update his glasses prescription.

Williams said others using similar injections have reported the same...

Tashkent’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Monday as a temperature inversion trapped pollutants over the city, pushing harmful particulate levels far above national safety limits, the Uzbekistan Hydrometeorological Service (Uzhydromet) reported.

Average PM2.5 concentrations soared to 202 µg/m³, more than triple the allowed 60 µg/m³, while PM10 levels climbed to 373 µg/m³, exceeding the threshold by about 20%. Residents across the capital reported a strong burning smell and reduced visibility.

Authorities urged people to limit outdoor activity and warned that poor air quality may persist for several days as adverse weather conditions continue. Similar pollution spikes are expected in...

Islamic State (IS) has begun using artificial intelligence to recruit British jihadists, prompting fresh concern within UK intelligence agencies about a possible resurgence of the group.

MI5 and MI6 are monitoring how IS is deploying AI as a propaganda tool, including the automated translation and rapid dissemination of extremist material across social media. Officials fear the technology could help the group reach and radicalise a new generation of young Britons, echoing the wave of foreign fighters who travelled to Syria and Iraq at the group’s height in 2014–2015.

Recent months have seen a rise in IS activity in Syria...

Uzbekistan’s special economic zones (SEZs) produced industrial goods worth approximately $3.75 bn in the first nine months of 2025, according to the National Statistics Committee. In the same period in 2024, production totalled around $2.63 bn.

By early October this year, enterprises within the SEZs had exported goods valued at $449,000, while imports reached $1.19 mln. The clusters now include more than 1,000 participating companies.

Total pre-tax profits for SEZ participants from January to September exceeded $242 mln.

Smaller industrial zones also recorded growth, with production reaching about $1.11 bn, compared with $889 mln in the previous year. These smaller...

Lionsgate’s Now You See Me: Now You Don’t has taken the top spot at the global box office, earning $75.5 mln. The film also led the domestic market, with $54.2 mln coming from 64 international territories.

Released almost a decade after the previous instalment, the third entry in the Now You See Me series performed particularly well with overseas audiences. Among the highest-grossing territories were China ($19.2 mln), South Korea ($3.9 mln), France ($3.5 mln) and the UK ($3.2 mln).

Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film reunites franchise favourites Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco as...

Bangladesh’s war crimes court on Monday sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of ordering a deadly crackdown on student-led protests in 2024 — a ruling that could inflame political tensions ahead of elections expected early next year.

The International Crimes Tribunal delivered the verdict in Hasina’s absence, as the 78-year-old former leader has lived in India since being overthrown in August 2024. Prosecutors said she directly authorised the use of lethal force during the unrest, which a UN report estimates left up to 1,400 people dead and thousands injured between July 15 and...

Joseph Kosinski has confirmed that he is in active talks with Apple to direct a sequel to F1: The Movie. The director is currently exploring ideas for the next chapter in the story of Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt.

“We are at the stage where we are dreaming up what the next chapter for Sonny Hayes and APX GP could be. Based on the global reaction to the film, it is clearly something audiences want to see,” Kosinski said.

Joseph Kosinski says he’s in active talks with Apple about making an #F1 sequel with...

Kazakhstan is preparing to prohibit the use of civil contracts as a substitute for standard employment agreements, Kursiv Media reports. The change is included in draft amendments to the Labour Code, the Social Code and the Code on Public Health and the Healthcare System, all developed by members of parliament.

The proposed reforms will be reviewed in their first reading on November 19 during a plenary session of the Mazhilis.

Labour Code: Ban on Misusing Civil Contracts

Under the amendments to the Labour Code, lawmakers aim to tighten rules on wage regulations and improve the work of conciliation...

US President Donald Trump has indicated he is open to fresh congressional sanctions against Russia, days after Hungary’s leader said he had been assured that his country could keep importing Russian crude.

Speaking to reporters at Palm Beach Airport on Sunday evening, Trump said,

“Any country that does business with Russia will be very severely sanctioned.”

He added that this was “OK” with him and suggested that Iran might also be added to upcoming measures, though he did not offer further details.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday that after meeting...

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled a major overhaul of the country’s asylum and immigration system, warning that Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo could face visa bans if they refuse to take back deported nationals. The proposed sanctions would block tourists, business travellers, and VIPs from entering the UK, echoing hardline measures previously used in the United States.

The reforms represent one of the most far-reaching changes to Britain’s migration policy in years. The government plans to tighten how the European Convention on Human Rights applies to asylum cases, restrict the right to family life...

Uzbek blogger Saidazim Rizayev surprised actor Will Smith with a special gift — a traditional Uzbek chapan and tubeteika.

During their meeting, the blogger not only presented the elements of the national costume but also invited the Hollywood star to visit Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia.

Before handing over the gift, Rizayev told the actor how much Smith’s films had inspired him as a child and expressed hope that he would accept the traditional attire as a gesture of respect and friendship.

«Mr. Smith, I grew up watching all your movies. This is...

Japan is working to defuse a fast-escalating dispute with China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival could prompt a military response.

Tokyo is sending Masaaki Kanai, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s Asia and Oceania bureau, to Beijing this week to meet his Chinese counterpart Liu Jinsong. Japanese media said Kanai will clarify that Takaichi’s comments do not represent a change in Japan’s security policy and will urge Beijing to avoid further damaging ties.

China has warned its citizens against travelling to Japan and strongly protested Takaichi’s remarks, with a...

Australian Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco has died at the age of 28, BBC reports.

The para-cyclist, who won Australia’s first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, passed away on Sunday at her home in Adelaide following a “sudden medical episode,” AusCycling, the national cycling body, confirmed.

Greco’s mother, Natalie, described the family as “devastated by her loss, [but] incredibly proud of the person she was and the way she represented Australia.” She added, “Paige meant everything to us. Her kindness, determination and warmth touched our family every day.”

Early Life...

Sky Sports has closed its new female-focused TikTok channel, Halo, following criticism that its content was “patronising” and “sexist.”

In a statement on social media on Saturday evening, the broadcaster admitted it “didn’t get it right” and confirmed it would “stop all activity” on the account.

The channel, launched only on November 13, had been promoted as an “inclusive, dedicated platform for women to enjoy and explore content from all sports while amplifying female voices and perspectives.”

However, many social media users condemned the account, nicknamed the “little sister” channel, for posting content about “hot girl walks” and matcha...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during his visit to Uzbekistan that Astana intends to increase the transit of Russian gas to the country, according to Aqorda.

“There are also promising opportunities to expand cooperation in the oil sector and nuclear industry,” the Kazakh president added.

QazaqGaz forecasts that Russian gas transit to Uzbekistan will reach 6 bn cubic metres this year, up from 5.6 bn cubic metres in 2024. Transit of Russian fuel to Uzbekistan began in 2023 via the Central Asia–Centre pipeline. During maintenance work, around 10,000 defects were identified, of which...

Uzbekistan plans to reduce administrative costs for entrepreneurs to 90 bn soums ($7.5 mln), according to a decree from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Starting next year, the country will implement a «Start a Business in 15 Minutes» principle.

Under this initiative, business founders will receive a comprehensive package of services when registering their companies. This will include an electronic digital key, applications for bank accounts, and licences. Entrepreneurs will also be able to arrange rental contracts, register online, and purchase cash registers, according to the presidential decree.

National Statistics Committee data show that by early November this year, there were...