News

Shinhan Bank announced on Monday that it has added Uzbek and Nepali to its foreign-language consulting services, responding to the rising number of migrant workers from the two countries, Korea Herald reports.

With the new languages, the bank now provides consultations in 12 languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mongolian, Thai, Russian, Cambodian, Filipino, Indonesian, Uzbek and Nepali, giving it the most extensive foreign-language support in South Korea’s domestic banking sector.

Demand for native-language financial assistance has grown recently as more workers from Uzbekistan and Nepal arrive in the country. Shinhan’s Foreign Language Consultation Center, a dedicated phone service...

Uzbekistan’s gas production continues to decline, reaching 35.5 bn cubic metres in the first ten months of 2025, according to data from the State Statistics Committee. This represents a 5.3% fall compared with the same period last year.

Oil output also fell from 602K tonnes to 547.3K tonnes over the year, while gas condensate production dropped from 1 mln tonnes to 930.9K tonnes.

Amid the drop in gas production, Kazakhstan has offered to increase the transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan. The Kazakh authorities are also seeking closer cooperation with Tashkent in the oil sector and nuclear energy.

Three suicide bombers attacked the headquarters of a Pakistani paramilitary force on Monday, killing three personnel and injuring at least five, authorities said.

Police reported that the assailants fired on security staff as they forced their way into the frontier constabulary complex in Peshawar before detonating explosives inside.

A senior official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the first bomber struck the main entrance while the others entered the compound. He added that army and police units had sealed off the area and were handling the situation carefully, fearing some attackers might still be inside.

The paramilitary headquarters is...

In Samarkand, the High-Level Dialogue of the 20th CITES Conference saw the signing of the Samarkand Declaration and a regional cooperation plan extending to 2032, the Committee for Ecology reports.

The agreements were signed by Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The declaration, prepared in partnership with Traffic International, underlines the countries’ commitment to strengthen joint measures against escalating threats to biodiversity including habitat loss, climate change and poaching.

The plan focuses on enhancing coordination between environmental, customs, law enforcement and judicial agencies.

It highlights the creation of national task forces to combat wildlife crime, the use of advanced monitoring technologies...

Streams of molten lava spilled from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano from Saturday night into Sunday as scientists warned that another eruption was likely to form in the coming days, the US Geological Survey said.

Kilauea sits within Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island and is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. It has erupted on and off for nearly a year with the next episode expected to be its thirty seventh since last December.

These bursts are typically marked by jets of lava shooting from the ground and rising high into the air. Visitors are still...

Gunmen launched an attack on a paramilitary force headquarters in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday, police said. The compound, which houses the frontier constabulary, was also struck by two suicide bombers according to Reuters sources who reported that three people had died.

A senior official speaking to the agency on condition of anonymity said the first bomber detonated at the main entrance while the second made it inside the grounds. He added that army units and police had sealed off the area and were proceeding with caution as they believed some attackers might still be inside...

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has secured a place in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament after winning World Cup semi-final tie-break against Nodirbek Yakubboyev. Chessdom reported the result following two classical draws that pushed the match into rapid play.

Sindarov created sustained pressure with the black pieces in the decisive game which forced Yakubboyev into severe time trouble. He then steered a demanding rook endgame to victory to claim his spot in the elite event.

The 2026 Candidates will be held in Cyprus at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort from March 25 to May 1 and will decide...

Turkey has removed the term Central Asia from its school curriculum, replacing it with Turkestan as part of a broader effort to reinforce Ankara’s vision of the Turkic world. The change has been gradually introduced over the past year, Minister of Education Yusuf Tekin said, according to Turkish Minute.

Officials argue that the new terminology supports a more unified historical narrative centred on Turkic identity. The concept aligns with Ankara’s long-standing cultural and geopolitical framing of the region as part of a shared Turkic heritage.

However, Tekin did not explain how this approach applies to Persian-speaking Tajikistan — a country that is geographically in...

Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Türkiye have signed an agreement in Istanbul to boost freight traffic along the southern route of the Eurasian transit corridor, according to Mehr News Agency.

Under the deal, the six countries will introduce unified tariffs for container trains, shorten transit times and reduce customs-related costs.

The agreement also calls for major infrastructure upgrades aimed at increasing the corridor’s capacity and strengthening the role of the southern route in trade between China and Europe.

Mehr reports that Iran is emerging as a central transit hub, with the main segment of the revamped route running...

Both McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been disqualified from the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix after their cars failed post-race technical inspection, creating a dramatic shift in the Drivers’ Championship.

The Stewards found that the plank assembly on both cars was worn below the minimum 9mm thickness breaching Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Technical Regulations. Despite McLaren arguing mitigating circumstances such as accidental damage and porpoising the standard penalty of disqualification was applied.

The ruling has a significant impact on the title race. Norris is now confirmed on 340 points but the removal of...

Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have agreed on a new framework for collaboration in the water and energy sectors. The agreement was finalised on November 22 during a meeting in Almaty, chaired by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamahmudov, signed on behalf of his country.

Amid challenges at the Toktogul Reservoir, the three countries decided to support one another during the winter months. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan confirmed they will supply electricity to Kyrgyzstan during the cold season. This will allow Kyrgyzstan to reduce water use for power generation and conserve resources in the Toktogul...

President Donald Trump has clarified that his administration’s 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine and Russia is «not my final offer.» Speaking to reporters, he stressed the urgency of ending the war, adding that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects the plan, «then he can continue to fight his little heart out.»

The proposal has sparked controversy. It suggests allowing Russia to keep more Ukrainian territory, limits the size of Ukraine’s military, and bars the country from joining NATO. Ukrainian lawmakers and some U.S. senators have criticized the plan, arguing it concedes too much to Russia and could leave Ukraine...

Tajik investors have opened 357 enterprises in Uzbekistan, according to data released by Tajikistan’s Statistics Agency.

Of these companies, 89 are joint ventures, while 268 are fully owned by investors from Tajikistan. The main sectors attracting Tajik capital include industry, energy, logistics and agriculture.

In return, more than 70 enterprises with Uzbek investment now operate in Tajikistan. These include yarn manufacturers, home appliance producers and other industrial facilities.

Economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries has been expanding steadily in recent years, supported by improved political dialogue and cross-border investment initiatives.

Max Verstappen stormed to victory at the Las Vegas Grand Prix after seizing the lead at the very start and never letting it go, keeping his faint title hopes alive with two races remaining. The Dutchman launched past pole sitter Lando Norris when the McLaren man ran wide at Turn 1 and from there delivered a near faultless drive.

Behind him, Norris salvaged second despite late fuel concerns and tyre wear while George Russell nursed a steering issue to secure third.

It's a DRAMATIC first corner in Las Vegas ?

Here's how the race start unfolded...

The US Embassy in Uzbekistan announced that Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and a native of Tashkent, will co-chair the new US–Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council. The US State Department shared the update earlier this week.

Gor will work alongside Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan.

According to the US side, the new council will give bilateral relations a more active, practical momentum. It aims to help companies find partners more quickly, boost mutual investment and open new high-tech avenues for cooperation.

This initiative follows the agreements reached during President...

Uzbekhydromet released a preliminary forecast for the upcoming winter in Uzbekistan. December is expected to be slightly warmer than average, with mean temperatures 1–1.5° above normal. Early in the month, nights will range from 0 to +5°, while daytime highs reach +10 to +15°.

In the second half of December, temperatures will become more variable. Night-time readings could range from +2…+7° down to 0…–5°, and daytime temperatures from +12…+17° to +2…+7°. Precipitation is expected to be near or slightly below average.

January is predicted to be close to long-term averages, though some regions may experience slightly colder conditions. During...

A court in Missouri has been left unsettled after a judge resigned following disciplinary action for wearing an Elvis Presley wig and at times playing the singer’s music during hearings.

Matthew EP Thornhill, the longest-serving circuit judge in St Charles County, openly described himself as an Elvis enthusiast. His fondness for the performer, however, led to a formal complaint as investigators said he often made «irrelevant» references to Elvis while on the bench.

In a letter to the Missouri Supreme Court dated November 12, Judge Thornhill said he had tried to «add levity at times when I thought it...

Kazakhstan has sharply increased its exports of tobacco sticks to Uzbekistan, sending 321.8 tonnes valued at $9.7 mln between January and September.

Uzbekistan has become the primary buyer, accounting for 82% of Kazakhstan’s total exports by volume. Previously, shipments to Uzbekistan were negligible, with only 0.3 kilograms exported during the first nine months of 2024. Tobacco sticks were officially categorised in EAEU statistics in early 2022, meaning earlier figures mostly reflect re-exports.

The surge is likely linked to the launch of Kazakhstan’s first production line for Philip Morris IQOS sticks, announced in April 2025, after which exports increased significantly.

Trade between Uzbekistan and China reached $14 bn last year, with around 5,000 joint ventures operating in the country, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Since the start of 2025, Uzbekistan has attracted almost $15 bn in Chinese investment, while the portfolio of joint technology projects has approached $90 bn. Leaders also discussed the Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan–China railway project and its future connection to international routes.

The talks covered initiatives in green and nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, transport, infrastructure, and agriculture.

It was also announced that Chinese Culture Days will be held in...

An Indian Air Force pilot has been killed after a Tejas fighter jet crashed during a display at the Dubai Airshow, BBC reports.

The IAF expressed condolences, saying it “deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family”. A court of inquiry is being established to determine the cause of the accident.

The crash occurred at around 14:10 local time (10:10 GMT), according to reports. Dubai emergency services responded swiftly, with firefighters and first responders managing the situation on-site. Footage from the scene showed black smoke rising into the sky.

India’s Chief of Defence Staff...

Japan is moving closer to restarting the world’s largest nuclear power plant for the first time since the Fukushima disaster, BBC reports. Niigata governor Hideyo Hanazumi has backed a partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, which has been idle since 2011.

His decision will be debated at a prefectural assembly meeting in December, where he will seek formal approval. The plan covers the restart of reactor No 6, followed later by No 7, but must also be cleared by Japan’s nuclear regulator.

It would be the first time Tepco is allowed to operate a nuclear reactor since the meltdown...

Lando Norris delivered the fastest lap in the dying moments of a frantic qualifying session to take pole position for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The strip had been soaked for hours after intermittent rain hit the circuit from late afternoon. Although the skies eased somewhat, the surface remained wet throughout, and with temperatures low there was little hope of natural drying. Drivers wrestled their cars through standing water, slipping off-line and struggling for consistency as the track evolved by the minute.

Q1: Big Names Fall as Weather Creates Chaos

Teams faced immediate dilemmas, with Aston Martin and Kick...

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has taken centre stage at the Golden Joystick Awards after securing seven titles including the top honour of Ultimate Game of the Year. The acclaimed role-playing game, created by a core team of around 30 at Sandfall Interactive in France, drew praise for its narrative, combat system and performances.

Guillaume Broche, the studio’s chief executive and creative director, said the success had been overwhelming and thanked both voters and staff as he accepted the main award. The game also earned Best Soundtrack, Best Storytelling and Best Visual Design, while Sandfall Interactive was named Studio of...

World Cup qualifiers Australia and Uzbekistan will host FIFA-supported intercontinental friendly tournaments in March as part of their preparation for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA announced Friday.

The «FIFA Series,» launched two years ago to give developing national teams more opportunities to face opponents from other continents, will expand next year to include women’s events in Brazil, Ivory Coast and Thailand — ahead of Brazil hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

Australia and debutant Uzbekistan are among 42 teams already qualified for the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Six more places will be...