News

Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous nation, is pressing ahead with rapid modernisation of its mobile infrastructure as part of a sweeping digital transformation strategy. A new report highlights both the country’s advances and the challenges it faces in competing with regional peers.

Strong Progress in 4G and Early 5G

All four national mobile network operators, Beeline Uzbekistan, UZTELECOM, Ucell and Mobiuz, are investing heavily in expanding 4G capacity and rolling out 5G. This effort underpins the government’s Uzbekistan 2030 agenda, which aims to achieve full broadband access, mobile coverage along highways and 5G availability in all major cities.

Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma is facing accusations of taunting Israeli players after their World Cup qualifier, sparking a heated confrontation on the pitch and drawing scrutiny from FIFA. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that Donnarumma targeted Tai Baribo and Sagiv Yehezkel with mocking remarks, triggering outrage among the visiting squad.

Escalation on the Pitch

Defender Eli Dasa described the atmosphere as «very emotional,» saying Israel believed they deserved to win and were unsettled by what they considered deliberate provocation. The row escalated to the point where Donnarumma’s teammates, including Federico Dimarco and Giacomo Raspadori, stepped in to prevent...

The combined fortune of the 400 richest Americans has reached an unprecedented $6.6 trln, with their wealth rising by $1.2 trln in the past 12 months, according to Forbes.

Musk Extends Lead

For the fourth year running, Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, has been named the world’s richest person with a fortune of $428 bn. He is the first individual in history to surpass $400 bn. Musk’s wealth grew by $184 bn compared to last year, helped by a 56% surge in Tesla’s share price.

Other Tech Titans

Second place went to Oracle co-founder and...

A student team from St Petersburg University has won the ICPC World Finals 2025, the world’s largest student programming competition.

This year’s final, held in Baku, brought together teams from more than 100 countries, representing around 140 of the world’s leading universities. Four teams were awarded gold medals, but the outright victory went to the students of St Petersburg University.

Outstanding Performance

The challenge requires participants to solve complex algorithmic problems under time pressure, writing code with minimal mistakes and failed attempts. Over five hours, the St Petersburg University team successfully solved 11 out of 12 problems, finishing well...

Easygroup, the company behind the Easy brand founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has entered the cryptocurrency market with the launch of a new mobile app, Easybitcoin.app.

The platform allows users to buy, hold and sell bitcoin, while earning rewards on their balances. It is powered by on-chain finance provider Uphold and is currently available in the US, with a UK rollout planned later this year.

Sir Stelios said the aim was to make bitcoin investment more accessible:

«For too long, investing in bitcoin has felt like an exclusive club, out of reach for the...

Qatar has condemned an Israeli airstrike on buildings in Doha housing Hamas’s political leadership, calling it a «flagrant violation of international law» and warning it reserves the right to respond.

The strike, which coincided with a meeting of Hamas officials to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, killed five people including the son of senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. Hamas said its top leaders survived, though it offered no proof.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu of «dragging the region to a place where it cannot be repaired,» while saying his country would...

Carlo Ancelotti insists Brazil remain «on the right track» for the 2026 World Cup, despite the five-time champions suffering their worst-ever finish in South American qualifying under the current format.

Brazil fell 1-0 to Bolivia on Tuesday in El Alto, where Miguel Terceros scored the winner at over 13,000 feet above sea level. The defeat confirmed Brazil’s sixth loss of the campaign, leaving them fifth in CONMEBOL qualifying behind Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay.

It marks Brazil’s lowest finish since the format was introduced in 1998, with their 28-point tally also their weakest return. Their previous worst was third...

When 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska boarded the late-night Blue Line train at Scaleybark station near downtown Charlotte, she appeared like any other commuter. Wearing khaki trousers, a dark shirt and a pizzeria cap pulled low over her blonde hair, she found an empty seat, quietly scrolling through her phone, CNN reports.

Zarutska, who fled Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion, had no way of knowing that the man behind her, dressed in a red sweatshirt, would end her life only minutes later.

The Fatal Attack

Four minutes into the journey, passenger Decarlos Brown pulled what looked like a knife from...

The 2026 World Cup may be the last tournament North America can stage without urgent climate adaptation, a new report has warned. The Pitches in Peril study, produced by Football for the Future, Common Goal and Jupiter Intelligence, found that 10 of the 16 host stadiums are at very high risk of extreme heat stress.

By 2050, almost 90% of North America’s host venues will need adaptation to cope with severe heat, while a third could face water demand equal to or greater than supply. The study also assessed future risks for stadiums due to host the 2030 and...

Norway delivered a staggering 11–1 victory over Moldova in the sixth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Erling Haaland netted five goals, Osgor struck four, with Horn and Ødegaard also on the scoresheet. Moldova’s only goal came via an own goal by Estegor.

Match Flow

Norway seized control from the start and opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Horn converted Haaland’s assist. Just five minutes later, Haaland doubled the lead before completing a first-half hat-trick. Ødegaard added another to make it 5–0 at the break.

The second half turned into a rout. Haaland scored twice more...

UzAuto Motors is currently working on eight new car models that will soon be introduced to the market, chief executive János Kovács has announced.

He explained that the company is expanding its range, with particular attention on producing more sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

At present, the plant has an annual production capacity of 550,000 vehicles. This year, 23,000 cars have been exported, and the company is preparing to enter new markets in Mongolia and Georgia.

Amid intensifying competition from foreign brands, UzAuto Motors is prioritising model updates and enhancing customer convenience. The best-selling Cobalt is being refreshed, while a...

Apple’s shares fell on September 9, after the company unveiled its latest smartphone line. According to NASDAQ, the stock dropped by almost 1.5% to $234.35 on September 9, having earlier peaked at $238.78.

The technology giant introduced the iPhone 17 series, which includes the new iPhone 17 Air. Apple described the device as comparable in performance to a MacBook Pro. Prices for the iPhone 17 start at $799, while the Air version begins at $999.

In addition to smartphones, Apple also revealed an updated range of Bluetooth headphones and smartwatches. Pre-orders open on September 12, with sales beginning...

Israel attempted to assassinate Hamas’s political leadership with an airstrike on Qatar on September 9, marking a sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict, Reuters reports. The United States described the strike as a unilateral move that undermined both American and Israeli interests.

President Donald Trump said he was «very unhappy about every aspect» of the Israeli attack, promising a full statement on September 10.

«We want the hostages back, but we’re not thrilled about the way it went down today,» he told reporters in Washington.

Qatar Accuses Israel of ‘State Terrorism’

Qatar...

Soldiers were seen patrolling the streets of Kathmandu on Wednesday, September 10, as Nepal’s capital remained under indefinite curfew, following two days of violent anti-corruption protests that forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign, Reuters reports.

Deadly Clashes After Social Media Ban

The unrest, the worst in decades for the Himalayan nation, was triggered by a social media ban announced last week and later withdrawn after 19 people were killed on September 8, when police used tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators.

«We are trying to normalise the situation first,» army spokesman...

Apple has revealed the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max at its September event, introducing a fresh design, new chipsets, and big camera improvements.

The Pro models now feature a full-width rear camera module and a brushed aluminum unibody for better cooling. Both phones include a 48MP telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom, an upgraded 18MP front camera, and support for advanced video features such as ProRes RAW.

Inside, Apple’s new A19 Pro chip promises «MacBook Pro-level» performance, paired with in-house Wi-Fi 7 (N1) and C1X modem technology for faster, more reliable connections. A vapor chamber cooling system...

Lego has launched its most ambitious Star Wars set to date: a 9,023-piece Death Star model that towers over 2 feet tall and comes with a record-breaking 38 minifigures.

Part of the Ultimate Collector Series, the new Death Star recreates iconic scenes from A New Hope and Return of the Jedi. Fans will find detailed locations including the trash compactor, Leia’s cell block, Emperor Palpatine’s throne room, and the hangar bay with an Imperial Shuttle. Even Darth Vader’s meditation chamber and a tongue-in-cheek stormtrooper hot tub are included.

Collectors can also stage classic battles such as Darth Vader’s duel...

Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, calling it a «flagrant violation» of Qatari sovereignty.

In a statement posted on X, the Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced the «brutal Israeli aggression» and pledged full solidarity with Doha, offering support for any measures Qatar chooses to take.

The attack, dubbed «Summit of Fire,» targeted a building in Doha where Hamas officials were reportedly meeting over a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. Footage circulating online showed smoke rising from the bombed site in the Qatari capital, which has acted as a key mediator in Gaza truce negotiations.

Israeli media...

Energy giant Shell has signed a 10-year natural gas supply agreement with Hungary’s MVM CEEnergy, marking its largest commitment yet in Central and Eastern Europe.

Under the deal, Shell will supply around 200 mln cubic metres (mcm) of natural gas annually starting in January 2026, the company said on Tuesday. Shell is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) trader.

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto described the contract as the country’s «largest volume and longest western supply agreement ever.»

The new arrangement builds on a previous six-year contract signed in 2020, under which Shell delivers 250 mcm of LNG annually...

Uzbekistan is in discussions with China’s Tianjin Rail Transit Group about its possible role in expanding the Tashkent metro, Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov has confirmed.

Talks cover both the construction of new stations and the modernisation of existing ones. The minister noted that this cooperation could significantly boost the capital’s transport infrastructure.

In August, Deputy Transport Minister Jasurbek Choriev held meetings with Tianjin Rail Transit Group’s management, according to the Ministry of Transport. The Chinese company expressed interest not only in the metro project but also in contributing to the planned Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed line, pledging to present technical proposals...

Gianluigi Donnarumma was rescued by the referee after a major blunder in Italy’s chaotic 5-4 win over Israel, days before his expected Manchester City debut.

The 26-year-old keeper appeared to punch the ball into his own net from a corner, but the referee ruled he had been fouled by defender Stav Lemkin despite minimal contact. Fans online mocked him, branding him «the new Onana of the EPL» and warning he could struggle in England.

Italy trailed through a Manuel Locatelli own goal before Moise Kean levelled. Israel regained the lead, but strikes from Kean, Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori...

Uzbekistan is preparing to reintroduce a 12-year education system, deputy minister of preschool and school education Sardor Radjabov has confirmed.

He explained that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had reviewed a presentation on education reform, which outlined plans to expand preschool preparatory courses. This move is expected to underpin the shift to a 12-year schooling model aimed at raising educational standards.

Alignment with International Standards

Radjabov stressed that many Uzbek graduates currently face obstacles when applying to foreign universities.

«Today, when entering overseas universities, our graduates are forced to take year-long foundation courses, which results...

According to Vedomosti, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov drew attention to the décor of the Diaoyutai residence in Beijing, where President Vladimir Putin was holding bilateral talks during his official visit.

Surveying the room decorated with matryoshka dolls and other figurines, Lavrov quipped: «And where is Labubu?»

The remark referred to the widely popular toy monster known for its fluffy fur and toothy grin, which has become part of contemporary pop culture. Russian Alfa-Bank recently announced a payment card featuring the toy, while the word «Labubu» has firmly entered everyday Russian usage. Data from the «Word of the Year...

Uzbekistan is looking to position itself as a strategic partner for South Korea in advanced industries ranging from critical minerals and semiconductors to green energy and pharmaceuticals, according to Laziz Kudratov, the country’s minister of investment, industry and trade.

The Central Asian nation, rich in minerals such as tungsten and molybdenum used in semiconductors and secondary batteries, is emerging as a valuable collaborator for Korea’s high-tech sectors.

«We are focusing first and foremost on critical minerals,» Kudratov told The Korea Herald.

Strengthening Supply Chains

In 2024, the two countries agreed to boost supply...

Uzbekistan’s gold and foreign exchange reserves climbed to a record $50.08 bn as of September 1, according to the Central Bank. This marks an increase of $1.34 bn compared with the previous month.

The key driver of growth was gold, whose value rose to $40.06 bn. Uzbekistan also expanded its gold stock in physical terms, from 11.7 mn to 11.8 mn ounces.

The foreign currency component of reserves edged down slightly to $9.5 bn. Of this, around $900 mn is held with international institutions and central banks, while some $7.5 bn is placed in foreign commercial banks.

In addition...