News

As of September 8, Uzbekistan’s passport improved its standing in the Henley Passport Index, moving up to 72nd out of 98 positions. At the end of July, the country held 74th place.

The index evaluates 199 passports and 227 destinations based on visa-free travel opportunities, updating quarterly. Uzbek citizens can now visit 62 countries without requiring a visa. Neighbouring ranks include Mozambique in 72nd place and São Tomé and Príncipe in 73rd.

At the start of autumn, Singapore continues to lead the global list, with its passport granting visa-free access to 193 countries. South Korea and Japan share...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Uzbekistan overnight on September 8, Uzbekistan’s Football Association reports.

At Tashkent International Airport, Infantino and his delegation were welcomed by Otabek Umarov, first deputy chairman of the National Olympic Committee, along with other senior officials.

During his visit, Infantino is set to hold talks on the development of football in Uzbekistan and will attend the final of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

This is not his first trip to the country. Two years ago, Infantino met with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, presenting him with a personalised football shirt. In 2024, he...

On the night of September 7 to 8, people across Uzbekistan turned their eyes to the sky to watch a full lunar eclipse, more widely known as a Blood Moon. Social media filled with striking photographs of the rare astronomical event.

According to Tashkent time, the eclipse began with the penumbral phase at 20:28, followed by the umbral phase at 21:27. The total eclipse started at 22:30, reached its peak at 23:11 and ended at 23:52. The partial phase then continued until 00:56, with the penumbral stage concluding at 01:55.

The full eclipse lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes...

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sunday, September 7, at UBS Arena in New York, where stars of global music gathered to celebrate another year of achievements. The evening saw standout wins for Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, ROSÉ and BLACKPINK, alongside special honours for legends Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes.

Lady Gaga, already a multiple VMA winner, entered the night with 12 nominations and left as the top victor. She picked up artist of the year, best art direction, best direction and best collaboration for her Bruno Mars duet Die With a...

Residents of Uzbekistan will be able to observe a total lunar eclipse on the night of 7–8 September 2025. The Moon will pass fully into the Earth’s shadow, appearing in a dark red hue.

The event will start with the penumbral phase at 20:28 Tashkent time, followed by the umbral phase at 21:27. The total eclipse will begin at 22:30, peak at 23:11, and end at 23:52. The phenomenon will conclude at 01:55 with the close of the penumbral phase.

The full eclipse will last 1 hour and 22 minutes, while the entire sequence will take nearly six hours...

Uzbekistan has risen to third place among the largest importers of Russian pharmaceutical products. The ranking was announced by Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov during the Eastern Economic Forum, RIA Novosti reported.

Kazakhstan and Belarus remain the leading buyers of Russian medicines. Turkmenistan and Algeria are also among the top five importers.

According to Russian officials, more than 85 percent of all international non-proprietary names from the list of essential medicines are now produced in Russia.

The figures highlight Uzbekistan’s growing demand for Russian-made pharmaceuticals and the strengthening of trade links in the sector.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan...

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have agreed to hold regular joint military exercises. The decision follows the signing of a government resolution by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

The drills will take place alternately in both countries. They will involve ground forces, aviation and specialised military equipment.

The agreement also sets rules for crossing the border by military convoys. It covers the use of training grounds, as well as medical and technical support during the exercises.

The accord is signed for five years. It will be automatically extended unless either side announces its withdrawal. Officials state that the cooperation aims to strengthen...

Max Verstappen powered to a dominant victory at Monza, securing his third win of the 2025 season and further strengthening his title challenge. The Red Bull driver survived an early scrap with Lando Norris, before controlling the race from the front to finish 19 seconds clear of the McLaren.

DU DU DU DU 📢📢📢

You know what to do 👇#F1 || #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/yfla8iWXVx

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 7, 2025

The Dutchman now adds Italy to his season’s triumphs in Japan and Imola, cementing himself as the driver to beat at the...

Rescue teams reached Andarlukak village in Afghanistan’s Kunar province 36 hours after the earthquake. None of the first responders were women, according to The New York Times.

As a result, many injured women went without medical help or remained under debris until women from nearby villages arrived. Witnesses say men rescuers avoided contact due to Taliban restrictions.

Under current rules, only close male relatives may touch a woman. Women are banned from treating men outside their family. In 2024, the Taliban also prohibited women from entering medical schools, worsening the shortage of female doctors and rescuers.

Local resident Bibi Aisha,

Uzbekistan has delivered 265 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan following a recent earthquake that struck several provinces. The handover ceremony took place in the border town of Hairatan, Balkh province, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

The shipment was organised at the Termez Cargo Centre and transported to Afghanistan on 14 trucks. It included medicines and food supplies for people affected by the disaster.

The aid is intended to support residents of the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan and Panjshir, which were hit by the earthquake.

During the ceremony, Afghan representatives expressed gratitude to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Uzbek people, describing...

On September 12, Almaty will open Kazakhstan’s first museum built to international standards. The Almaty Museum of Arts is designed to host large-scale global exhibitions and to strengthen the city’s role as a cultural hub in Central Asia.

Artistic director Meruert Kaliyeva said the museum will connect Kazakh art with global practices. The programme will include contemporary works from Central Asia as well as internationally recognised names, offering audiences a broader perspective on visual culture.

The building was developed by UK firm Chapman Taylor with technical input from Buro Happold. It includes climate control systems, advanced storage, and spaces...

Uzbekistan and the OSCE have held talks on how to strengthen Afghanistan’s place in regional markets.

Ismatulla Irgashev, the Uzbek President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met in Tashkent with Terhi Hakala, the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Envoy.

Both sides stressed the need for steady dialogue to support stability and growth in Afghanistan, according to Trend news agency.

Hakala welcomed Uzbekistan’s efforts to build a joint regional approach. The talks also covered plans to boost trade links and revive Afghanistan’s national economy.

The OSCE has 57 members, including the US, Russia, European and Central Asian states, as well as Canada.

Taylor Swift chose not to travel to São Paulo for Travis Kelce’s first NFL game of the new season, with security costs cited as the main reason. The pop star had been widely tipped to attend, but speculation ended shortly before kickoff when her absence was confirmed.

In the run-up to the game, several local outlets even reported that Swift’s plane had touched down in Brazil, which later proved false. Fans inside the stadium, many of whom expected her to join them, were left disappointed.

According to sources quoted by UK media, the decision was practical rather than personal...

Max Verstappen delivered a scorching lap to seize pole position for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, setting a new circuit record in the process. The Red Bull driver stopped the clock at 1m18.792s, edging Lando Norris by just 0.077s.

The Dutchman’s pole is only his second at the Temple of Speed, though he has already won twice here. It also marks his fifth pole of the 2025 season, adding to successes in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Miami and Silverstone.

Another record for Max 🤩

Verstappen takes his 45th pole for Red Bull overtaking Sebastian Vettel's tally#F1

Erling Haaland has admitted he «can’t sleep» after expressing anger at his former club Bryne FK’s decision to axe three first-team players midway through the season.

The Manchester City striker took to social media to criticise the Norwegian side, who currently sit third from bottom of the league with just five wins in 20 matches and no victories in their last seven games. If they finish in their current position, Bryne will face a relegation play-off to stay in Norway’s top flight.

Despite their struggles, the club cut ties with captain Axel Kryger, Jens Husebo and Robert Undheim. Local...

Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SSS) has detained individuals attempting to smuggle a large quantity of powerful drugs from Kyrgyzstan into the country.

According to the agency, a 1985-born resident of Namangan, previously convicted under Articles 246 and 251-1 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, planned once again to make money through the illegal import and sale of strong narcotics.

To carry out his plan he contacted an acquaintance in Kyrgyzstan, asking him to deliver a large consignment. The Kyrgyz citizen transported 16,755 units of the potent drug Regapen into Kosonsoy district and hid them in a secret location.

The Namangan resident...

EastEnders fans have hit out at the BBC after a major spoiler ruined Max Branning’s dramatic return storyline.

The iconic character, played by Jake Wood, made his comeback at the end of Wednesday’s episode. Although his return was first reported back in May, many viewers were unaware he would appear this week.

However, those who went to watch the episode on iPlayer were left angry when the preview image showed Max, spoiling the reveal before they had started watching.

One frustrated fan wrote on Reddit: «I watched Wednesday’s episode today – tell me why iPlayer decided...

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, visited the inaugural Bukhara Biennale Recipes for Broken Hearts and shared photos from the event on Telegram.

«The first Bukhara Biennale offers unique venues where our rich history unfolds, highlighting our traditions and carefully preserved crafts,» she noted. Mirziyoyeva added that the event unites both contemporary and applied art.

The Biennale opened on September 5 and will continue until November 20. Around 70 projects created by artists from Uzbekistan and overseas will be showcased across the city, including the Khoja-Gaukushon complex and other historic...

Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new regulation defining how the customs value of goods is determined when exported from the country. The document was published on the legal portal Lex.uz.

Under the decision, the customs value serves as the basis for calculating export duties and other mandatory payments. The use of false or arbitrary figures in this process is strictly prohibited.

The main calculation method will be Method No. 1 which is based on the transaction value of the exported goods. If this is not possible, other approaches will be applied step by step:

US President Donald Trump has wished Uzbekistan’s national football team success during a phone call with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The World Cup will be held next year across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June to July.

During the conversation the two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Tashkent and Washington. Trade between the two countries grew by 15% last year, according to Mirziyoyev’s press service.

«The US President highly appreciated and supported the irreversible reforms being carried out in New Uzbekistan in recent years, aimed at modernising the economy and...

Jim Arrington, recognised in 2015 as the world’s oldest competitive bodybuilder, continues to defy age at 93. He recently took part in the 2025 IFBB Pro League Masters World Championships, where he stood out as the oldest participant. With over seven decades of experience in bodybuilding, his dedication shows no signs of slowing.

Over the years Arrington has reshaped his diet to support his training. Once reliant on milk and beef, he later cut them out due to inflammation and switched to lighter, healthier options such as mushrooms and olive oil.

«I figured if I did...

At Tashkent’s Olympia Stadium the Uzbekistan national football team claimed a convincing 4-0 victory against Kyrgyzstan, securing their place in the final of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

The match began with early pressure from the visitors. In the fifth minute Atabayev struck the crossbar from a free kick, but momentum soon shifted towards the hosts. On 26 minutes Akmal Mozgovoy opened the scoring after VAR confirmation. Just before half-time Kyrgyzstan were reduced to ten men when Valeriy Kichin was sent off for a last-man foul.

In the second half Timur Kapadze’s side stepped up the pace. Otabek Shukurov

On September 6, the latest mini-album by South Korean girl group aespa reached number one on the iTunes Top Albums chart in Uzbekistan.

Released on September 5, 2025, Rich Man is the group’s sixth extended play (EP), produced under SM Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment in Korea and Warner Records internationally. The EP runs for around 19 minutes and contains six tracks that span dance, hip-hop, R&B and pop influences. Its lead single shares the album’s title.

Rich Man was issued in 15 physical formats, including two Rich Man Bag versions, five Burst versions (a group edition and...

A piece of film history has changed hands for a galactic price. Darth Vader’s original duelling lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi has sold for $3.65 mln at a Propstore auction in Los Angeles, making it the most valuable Star Wars item ever auctioned.

The winning bid stood at $2.9 mln before fees, setting a franchise record. The weapon was wielded on screen by actor David Prowse and stunt double Bob Anderson, and carried a presale estimate of $1 mln to $3 mln. It is believed to be the only hero lightsaber from the original...