News

Oxford and Cambridge have failed to reach the top three in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time in its 32-year history, fuelling debate about admissions policies in higher education.

The 2026 edition ranked the London School of Economics in first place for the second year running, with the University of St Andrews second and Durham University third. Oxford and Cambridge tied for fourth.

Durham was also named University of the Year 2026, praised for improvements in teaching quality and student experience. Editor Helen Davies said its performance had «outdone both Oxford and Cambridge.»

Kursiv Uzbekistan has gathered everything you need to know about the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony:

What is the Ballon d’Or?

The Ballon d’Or, presented annually by France Football since 1956, is football’s most prestigious individual honour. It recognises players for outstanding talent, decisive performances and achievements across the season.

Since 2024, UEFA has partnered with Groupe Amaury, the owner of France Football and L’Équipe, to co-organise the event. The partnership aims to expand the award’s global reach while keeping...

The US President Donald Trump described conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a «martyr for American freedom» during an emotional memorial service on September 21, pledging to continue his work while again blaming the «radical left» for his murder.

Trump’s remarks stood out for their sharply partisan tone.

«The violence comes largely from the left,» he declared without providing evidence, downplaying political violence from the right and contrasting with the more restrained tributes of other speakers. He added, «He did not hate his opponents. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents.»

Uzbekistan and Kenya have taken a significant step in expanding bilateral engagement by signing an agreement to establish formal diplomatic relations.

The accord was finalized by Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and Kenya’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi. Saidov shared the development on his official Telegram channel, emphasizing Kenya’s role as «one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and a hub for innovation and technology.»

Kenya, which achieved independence from Britain in 1963, has a population of more than 52 mln people. In 2024, its economy was valued at $402 bn, with per capita income exceeding $2,400. The capital...

Uzbekistan’s trade volumes continued to climb this year, with the country reporting $51.4 bn in turnover for the January–August 2025 period. The figure represents a nearly 20% increase from a year earlier, official statistics show.

Export growth outpaced imports, with overseas shipments rising more than 31% year-on-year to $22.9 bn. Imports, meanwhile, expanded by almost 12%, totaling $28.4 bn.

China strengthened its role as Uzbekistan’s primary commercial partner, with bilateral trade valued at $9.7 bn. Russia followed closely at $8.3 bn, while Kazakhstan held third place with $3 bn. Turkey and South Korea also remained among the top five...

Uzbek wrestler Aytzhan Khalmakhanov has written his name into the country’s sporting history, claiming gold at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Competing in the 63 kg division, the 19-year-old defeated South Korea’s Chung Han-jae in the final bout.

The result ends a 24-year wait for Uzbekistan to see one of its athletes crowned world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Uzbekistan’s national team also added to its medal tally in other weight categories. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Alisher Ganiev (60 kg) earned silver, while Abdullo Aliyev (72 kg) took bronze. In freestyle events, Gulomjon Abdullaev (57 kg) and Umidjon...

Max Verstappen delivered another masterclass as he cruised to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, extending Red Bull’s resurgence. The Dutchman controlled the race from pole position, surviving early drama and later pit stop phases to seal his fourth win of the season and back-to-back triumphs following Monza.

Behind him, George Russell executed a long first stint to climb into second for Mercedes, while Carlos Sainz held his nerve to secure a landmark podium for Williams.

Early chaos as Piastri crashes out

The drama began immediately when Championship leader Oscar Piastri jumped the start, triggered anti-stall and tumbled...

Uzbekistan produced 28.9 bn cubic meters of natural gas between January and August 2025, according to new figures released by the State Statistics Committee. The volume is down from 30.1 bcm recorded during the same period last year.

The energy sector also saw a decline in gas condensate production, with 760,500 tons generated over the eight-month period — an 8.3% year-on-year drop. Oil output followed the same trend, falling from 485,100 tons in 2024 to 434,500 tons this year.

Despite lower production, Uzbekistan’s natural gas exports grew in value. Shipments abroad reached $494.7 mln, representing an annual increase of...

Conor McGregor is preparing for one of the most unusual fights of his career — a UFC bout staged at the White House grounds next summer.

The Irish fighter is set to meet American contender Michael Chandler in June 2026. The event will be part of nationwide celebrations marking 250 years of U.S. independence. The announcement followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks earlier this year, when he revealed plans to host the UFC on presidential property.

Trump, a longtime supporter of UFC President Dana White, said the idea was simple: «We’re bringing UFC to the White...

Uzbekistan has submitted diplomatic notes to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and the Office of the Prosecutor General following reports that 13 of its citizens were subjected to forced labor under degrading conditions at farms in the Kyiv region.

What Happened

Thirteen Uzbek nationals, aged 22 to 42, were lured to Ukraine with promises of high salaries. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were forced to work at two agricultural enterprises with severe restrictions on movement.

Authorities say the operation was organized by a Chinese national with assistance from individuals from Thailand, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. A criminal...

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the Taliban after the group rejected Washington’s demand to hand over control of Afghanistan’s Bagram Airbase.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: «If Afghanistan does not return the Bagram Airbase to those who built it — the United States of America — there will be serious consequences!»

The remarks follow Trump’s earlier statement in mid-September, when he announced Washington’s intention to reclaim the facility, which once hosted American forces. He argued that the base is strategically important, given its proximity to sites in China...

Pfizer has announced plans to begin clinical trials later this year for a once-daily version of its weight-loss pill danuglipron, following the abandonment of a twice-daily version last year due to high dropout rates and side effects such as nausea and vomiting.

The new formulation is part of the second generation of weight-loss pills being developed by major drugmakers, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, aimed at offering patients a more convenient alternative to injectable treatments. Analysts predict that the global weight-loss drug market could surpass $150 bn in annual sales by the early 2030s, with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has confirmed that it will not be including cryptocurrencies in its international reserves for the foreseeable future.

Speaking at a press briefing, Sanjar Valiev, head of the department for managing international reserves, explained that while some advanced economies have started adding alternative assets such as cryptocurrencies, Uzbekistan does not consider the move appropriate at this stage.

«Cryptocurrency is an asset with very high volatility, which makes it impractical to include in the country’s reserves,» Valiev said.

He noted that other states that have incorporated digital assets into their reserves had...

Between September 8 and 19, the Korean railway company KORAIL held training sessions for 15 employees of Uzbekistan Railways, focusing on the operation and technical servicing of high-speed trains.

The programme was part of a contract signed in June last year for the supply and maintenance of six EMU-250 trains worth 2.7 bn won ($1.9 bn). During the course, KORAIL experts introduced participants to key train systems, including brakes, traction equipment, control systems, and safety features.

The training combined theory and practice. Participants studied daily and scheduled maintenance procedures, examined breakdown cases, and honed their skills at repair facilities...

Charlie Kirk makes a brief but unexpected posthumous appearance in a new documentary released only nine days after his assassination.

The late conservative activist, who was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, is seen in In Whose Name? sitting in on a 2018 discussion with Kanye West and Candace Owens about politics and culture.

The film, largely shot on iPhone by first-time director Nico Ballesteros, tracks West’s turbulent career over six years as he moved deeper into controversy and conspiracy. During this period, he met with Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA...

Telecom operators in Uzbekistan will be able to connect directly to international internet networks under a new government decree.

Operators without direct access are now permitted to use international connections for commercial purposes and to serve users until January 1, 2030. The measure will operate as a pilot scheme until the start of that year.

According to the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the decision is intended to encourage investment in the telecoms sector, improve information security, and align national legislation with World Trade Organization agreements.

Uzbekistan sold 17,387 gold bars with a combined weight of 380 kilogrammes in the first eight months of 2025, the Central Bank reported at a press conference.

For comparison, 14,382 bars weighing 236 kilogrammes were sold in 2024, a figure 2.5 times higher than in 2023. Since 2020, sales of gold bars in the country have grown more than sixfold.

As of September 19, the Central Bank set the following retail prices for measured gold bars:

Enterprises in Uzbekistan now have access to a new investment instrument that enables them to modernise production through foreign financing while settling obligations with carbon credits. This mechanism was made possible by the recently adopted law on greenhouse gas emission limits and a presidential decree on participation in the international carbon credit market, according to Shokhzod Islamov, head of the Green Economy Development Department at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, speaking to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

He described the system as offering businesses «a real path to modernisation without credit burdens». The principle is straightforward: when a company reduces resource consumption...

The Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office has announced the release of 13 Uzbek citizens from forced labour, where they were held in inhumane conditions.

Ukrainian authorities detained two Chinese nationals, one Uzbek and a Ukrainian woman, suspected of recruiting and transporting people from Uzbekistan to Ukraine.

«The suspects coerced and deceived vulnerable individuals, targeting those without housing or work and in difficult financial situations,» the prosecutor’s office said.

Officials added that the suspects were recruiting outside Ukraine.

Those forced into labour were fined for the smallest infractions. According to investigators, the victims were aged...

Uzbekistan has signed protocols on market access with Argentina, Australia and Honduras. The agreements were concluded this week in Geneva by a delegation headed by Saida Mirziyoyeva, Chief of Staff to the President.

In addition, the Uzbek side reached preliminary arrangements with two more World Trade Organization members. With these developments, Uzbekistan has now finalised negotiations with 29 countries, has provisional agreements with two WTO members and needs to complete talks with only three states to finalise the accession process.

Kursiv also reports that South Korea’s Deputy Permanent Representative to Geneva, Choi Sung-yo, has been appointed chair of the World Trade...

Rapper DaBaby has provoked criticism after releasing a new music video that re-enacts a fatal stabbing on a North Carolina light rail train, recast as an intervention that saves a life.

The track Save Me, released on September 16 by the artist whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, quickly gained traction online, surpassing 400,000 YouTube views by September 17 afternoon. However, its graphic subject matter has prompted backlash across social media.

The video dramatises the killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed while travelling on a Charlotte Area Transit System train last month...

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc has opened in Japanese cinemas today, September 19, accompanied by a brand-new trailer. The preview teases more footage alongside the ending theme JANE DOE, a collaboration between Hikaru Utada and Kenshi Yonezu.

The feature is directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara, who previously helmed episodes four and ten of the Chainsaw Man TV anime and worked extensively on Black Clover. Scriptwriting duties return to Hiroshi Seko, while Kazutaka Sugiyama reprises his role as character designer at MAPPA. Supporting roles include Souta Yamazaki and Shun as sub character designers, Sota Shigetsugu as action animation director, and...

US country songwriter Brett James has died in a small plane crash, industry officials have confirmed. He was 57.

Although he released a solo album in the 1990s, James was best recognised for his prolific songwriting, penning hundreds of country hits. His most acclaimed work was Jesus, Take The Wheel for Carrie Underwood, which earned him two Grammy awards in 2007 for best country song and best female country vocal performance

Tributes From the Country Music World

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame said James was on board a single-engine plane when it went down on September 18.

The United States is working to retake Bagram airbase from the Taliban, Donald Trump has said, signalling Washington’s intention to reclaim a key strategic foothold lost during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.

The US president indicated that negotiations with the Taliban were under way for American forces to once again occupy the airfield, which was previously the largest US military site in Afghanistan. He stressed its importance as a regional outpost given its location just an hour’s flight from Chinese nuclear weapons facilities.

Speaking alongside Keir Starmer at Chequers on September 18, Trump remarked:

«One of...