News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia to bolster their fiscal policies to improve economic resilience and support sustainable long-term growth.

According to the recently published IMF report Rethinking Fiscal Policy and Fiscal Frameworks in the Caucasus and Central Asia, state budgets and fiscal strategies have played a pivotal role in the economic transformation of the region since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

State dominance and economic vulnerability

Despite a history of regional reforms, analysts note that the public sector and state-owned enterprises continue to dominate the economies of...

Uzbekistan has launched its inaugural “Open Tourist Season”, a comprehensive new programme designed to significantly increase the influx of international holidaymakers. Initiated in early June and scheduled to run until August, the initiative was introduced under a recent decree by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev focused on the development of the Samarkand region.

Following this summer’s launch, authorities have confirmed that the promotional season will become an annual event.

Financial incentives

To rapidly stimulate the tourism industry, the Uzbek government has rolled out a series of highly lucrative financial incentives targeting both domestic and international travel businesses.

American entrepreneur Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire following the highly anticipated initial public offering of his aerospace company SpaceX.

According to calculations published by Reuters, the billionaire’s personal stake in SpaceX is now valued at a staggering $866 bn. When combined with his existing assets in the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, his total net worth has eclipsed $1.1 trn.

The historic wealth milestone was triggered after SpaceX floated 555.6 mln shares at $135 apiece. The monumental move generated $75 bn for the aerospace firm and firmly cemented its position as the largest IPO in corporate...

American pop sensation Ariana Grande has publicly demanded that President Donald Trump‘s administration stop using her music to soundtrack its political messaging.

The dispute ignited after the White House uploaded a TikTok video earlier this week to promote its hardline immigration policies. The clip features federal agents detaining and handcuffing individuals while Grande’s 2024 hit track “Bye” plays in the background.

A fiery exchange

Taking directly to the comments section of the official White House post on Thursday, the Grammy-winning artist expressed her outrage. She pleaded with the administration to never associate her work with what she described as...

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been handed a 30-year prison term by a Seoul court for his role in a covert military operation over North Korea. The Seoul Central District Court found the disgraced leader guilty of manufacturing a border crisis to justify his disastrous December 2024 martial law decree.

The judiciary convicted the former conservative president on severe charges of abusing his authority and aiding the enemy. According to official court documents Yoon was entirely complicit in planning the October 2024 drone incursions into Pyongyang from their inception. The verdict aligns perfectly with the penalty...

The Thai monarchy has confirmed the passing of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati. The eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn succumbed to severe health complications on Thursday evening at the age of 47.

Her death brings a deeply sorrowful end to a medical crisis that left the royal in a coma for nearly four years.

Known warmly across the nation as Princess Pa, she initially collapsed in December 2022. While carrying out duties in the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province she suffered a sudden loss of consciousness linked to a severe cardiac issue. Following an emergency helicopter transfer to a specialist...

South Korean entertainment agency Belift Lab confirmed on Thursday that Evan, previously a member of the popular K-pop group Enhypen, has finalised the details for his solo debut.

The singer is scheduled to release his first digital single, titled Ride or Die, on June 22.

The upcoming release will feature two distinct tracks designed to showcase the artist’s versatility. According to his management, the songs will highlight contrasting elements of his personality and musical style, pitting a sharp and bold image against a calmer and more sophisticated aura.

Evan has taken significant creative control over his debut project. His contributions...

Mexico have successfully launched their 2026 World Cup campaign by securing a 2-0 victory against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament hosts dictated the tempo for the vast majority of the opening fixture and fully capitalised on their dominance during an action-packed second half.

The home side began the match with intense energy and immediately placed South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams under heavy pressure. This relentless early approach yielded results within the opening ten minutes.

Following a swift interception by Alvaro Fidalgo deep in opposition territory, Julian Quinones drove toward the edge of the penalty...

South Korea mounted a spirited second-half comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in a tense 2026 World Cup group stage clash. The Asian side secured all three points after scoring a decisive goal with less than ten minutes remaining on the clock.

The first 45 minutes ended entirely goalless despite South Korea firmly dictating the tempo and maintaining possession. Attacking duo Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in both managed to carve out dangerous opportunities but were repeatedly thwarted by a highly resolute performance from Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

Czechs strike against the run of play

Following the interval the...

The opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Mexico City, with the show at the iconic Estadio Azteca blending live music, Mexican cultural traditions, and a symbolic handover to what is set to become the largest tournament in football history.

The evening’s headline performers were Shakira and Burna Boy, who debuted the official 2026 World Cup anthem, Dai Dai. For Shakira, the performance marked another return to football’s biggest stage, where she remains closely associated with the World Cup thanks to her hit song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

Other...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will officially kick off with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

The tournament hosts will take the field backed by tens of thousands of home supporters. Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has entrusted veteran striker Raul Jimrnez to lead the attack, while South Africa manager Hugo Broos has opted for the forward partnership of Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners.

Kickoff is scheduled for midnight Tashkent time.

Mexico (4-1-4-1)

Raul Rangel — Israel Reyes, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Gallardo — Erik Lira — Roberto...

The Pentagon was briefly placed under lockdown on Thursday after a potential air quality issue triggered emergency safety protocols and prompted employees in several areas to shelter in place. Authorities later confirmed that no hazardous materials were present and that the incident was a false alarm.

The alert affected multiple corridors and floors of the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Hazardous materials teams from local fire departments and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency were dispatched to investigate the situation.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said building monitoring systems had detected a possible air quality issue, prompting...

Thousands of people took to the streets of Tirana on Wednesday in the largest demonstration so far against a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Protesters voiced concerns about the environmental impact of the planned development and demanded greater transparency from the Albanian government.

The proposed resort would be built on Sazan Island and along parts of Albania’s southern coastline. Backers of the project say it could boost tourism and attract billions of dollars in investment, while critics argue it threatens sensitive ecosystems and protected habitats.

Environmental groups have warned...

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to make its highly anticipated debut on Wall Street, with the company set to begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX. The offering is expected to be the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history.

SpaceX has priced its shares at $135 each and aims to raise $75 bn, giving the company an estimated valuation of about $1.75 trillion. If successful, the IPO would surpass previous records and rank SpaceX among the most valuable publicly traded companies in the United States.

The company, founded by Elon Musk, is best known...

A federal judge is considering whether to block President Donald Trump’s planned UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House, following a lawsuit filed by local residents and a public-interest advocacy group. The case centers on the legality of hosting a major sporting event at the presidential residence and the construction of a large octagon-shaped arena on federal property.

The event, known as «UFC Freedom 250,» is scheduled for June 14 and is expected to coincide with celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States and Trump’s 80th birthday. Organisers plan to host several fights...

The ambassadors of France, Germany and the United Kingdom met senior Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to advance ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine. The talks were held at Russia’s Foreign Ministry and marked a rare high-level contact between Western diplomats and Russian authorities.

The meeting followed a summit in London earlier this week, where French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in supporting direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending more than four years of war.

According to...

Reality TV personality and former glamour model Katie Price has refused to pay £140,000 to secure the release of her husband, Lee Andrews, who is currently being held in a Dubai prison over a civil legal dispute.

According to reports, Price initially believed Andrews could be released after paying a much smaller sum, but later learned that authorities required £140,000 due to a separate ongoing legal case. Despite Andrews allegedly urging her to raise the money, including through a crowdfunding campaign, Price has declined. She said she would «never give a man money» and insisted she has always...

New Delhi has strongly condemned a fatal American military intervention off the Omani coast that resulted in the deaths of three Indian maritime workers. The fatalities occurred when U.S. forces attacked a commercial oil tanker accused of breaching Washington’s ongoing blockade on Iranian shipping.

The incident marks the first confirmed casualties since the United States launched its aggressive maritime embargo on April 13.

Escalation in the Gulf

The fatal strike targeted the Settebello, a Palau-registered tanker navigating the Gulf of Oman. According to statements from U.S. Central Command (Centcom), the vessel was actively attempting to transport sanctioned Iranian petroleum.

The highly anticipated World Cup group-stage fixture between Uzbekistan and Colombia is on track to become one of the most highly attended matches of the tournament so far, with preliminary data revealing that more than 74,700 tickets have already been sold.

According to figures published by the football-focused Telegram channel Futbolium, current sales for this specific clash have surpassed every other match at the tournament. This includes the high-profile opening game between hosts Mexico and South Africa which drew 73,373 spectators, as well as the heavy-hitting encounter between Brazil and Morocco which recorded an attendance of 73,719.

The...

Uzbekistan has officially secured the fifth spot in global tourism growth for the first quarter of 2026. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer report, the Central Asian nation experienced a remarkable surge in international visitors that far outpaced the global average.

During the first three months of the year, the number of foreign tourists arriving in the republic increased by 37% compared to the same period last year.

Global Tourism Growth Leaders (Q1 2026)

Uzbekistan shares its impressive growth rate with Palau, placing it among a diverse group of surging global destinations.

Affordability and Expanding Horizons

Iran’s armed forces have once again shut down all maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting one of the world’s most critical energy choke points.

According to a statement published by the state-linked Tasnim News agency, the restriction applies unconditionally to all sea traffic.

“The Strait of Hormuz is declared closed to the movement of any vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, and any movement will be restricted,” the military command announced.

Escalation triggered by helicopter crash

The latest flare-up in hostilities between Washington and Tehran was ignited by the...

Uzbekistan national team manager Fabio Cannavaro has secured a place among the top five highest-paid head coaches competing at the 2026 World Cup.

According to data compiled by Finance Football and reported by Championat, the legendary Italian defender commands an annual salary of €4 mln. This puts his earnings on par with Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez.

Cannavaro’s lucrative contract with the Uzbekistan Football Association places him ahead of several of the most prominent names in international football.

The ranking reveals that the Italian out-earns France’s World Cup-winning manager Didier Deschamps, who receives €3.8 mln per year. He also sits...

A star-studded crowd at Madison Square Garden witnessed the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday evening as the New York Knicks overcame a staggering 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106.

The dramatic victory gives New York a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The franchise is now just one win away from securing its first national championship since 1973.

Last-second heroics

The feverish Game 4 clash was decided in the final moments. With a mere 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock, OG Anunoby sank a decisive three-pointer that flipped the game on...

Pakistan confirmed its readiness to collaborate with Uzbekistan on a new short film exploring the life of the renowned statesman and military commander Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.

The announcement was made by Pakistan’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar. He confirmed that the cinematic project will chronicle the historical figure’s early journey and his enduring regional influence.

Chronicling a historical legacy

“The film will tell about Babur’s childhood, his arrival in this region and the foundation of his own empire,” the Pakistani minister highlighted.

To set the project in motion, cultural representatives from both...