News

For holidaymakers wondering how to maximise their time in Uzbekistan, the answer to whether Tashkent International Airport has a Fast Track service is a resounding yes. Originally introduced in May 2022 to help passengers bypass lengthy airport queues, the system has just received a major high-tech upgrade to make your journey even smoother.

Whether you prefer a personal escort or a quick digital scan, here is everything you need to know about breezing through the capital’s airport.

The new next-gen automated gates

On May 7, 2026 the airport unveiled a brand new automated Fast Track system. Powered by...

Azerbaijan’s largest financial institution ABB is preparing to acquire a controlling stake in Uzbekistan’s Davr Bank during the second half of this year. According to the news outlet Trend.az, the Azerbaijani lender plans to purchase a 51% share of the business. Abbas Ibrahimov, the head of ABB, confirmed that negotiations regarding the acquisition have concluded on a highly positive note.

Strategic expansion into Central Asia

Speaking to the Azertac news agency, Ibrahimov revealed that expanding into foreign markets, specifically Uzbekistan, is a primary focus for the bank over the next two years. He explained that this international ambition...

Uzbekistan has recorded the highest global growth in the number of schools offering Korean language classes. According to the Yonhap news agency, the country opened 68 new educational facilities dedicated to teaching the language over the past year.

This rapid expansion means the republic has outpaced nations such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and the United States in its rollout of new Korean language programmes.

The global landscape for Korean education has experienced a massive boom over the last four years. Yonhap reported that the total number of overseas schools teaching the language has jumped by...

The luxury cruise ship struck by a fatal hantavirus outbreak dropped anchor near the Port of Granadilla in Tenerife early on Sunday morning. Footage from Reuters confirms the vessel is now in position to begin the delicate process of evacuating its passengers and a portion of its crew.

Coordinated disembarkation protocol

According to Spanish authorities, the evacuation is scheduled to commence between 7:30 am and 8:30 am local time. Although none of the passengers currently display any symptoms of the infection, all individuals on board are being treated as high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure guided by...

Dua Lipa has initiated a $15 mln legal battle against tech manufacturer Samsung, accusing the company of exploiting her likeness to sell televisions without seeking permission or offering financial compensation, Variety reports.

According to legal documents filed on Friday, the dispute centres around Samsung allegedly printing the pop star’s image on the cardboard boxes of its TVs starting last year. When Lipa’s team discovered the promotion and formally requested that the company stop using her face, Samsung allegedly responded in a “dismissive and callous” manner while refusing to halt the campaign.

“Ms. Lipa’s face was...

Enzo Fernandez scored a crucial free-kick to earn Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. The result finally ends a dismal six-match losing streak for the visitors in the Premier League and secures a first point for caretaker manager Calum MacFarlane.

The draw inches Liverpool closer to securing Champions League football for next season as they remain fourth in the table with 59 points after 36 matches. Meanwhile, Chelsea sit comfortably mid-table in ninth position on 49 points.

Early breakthrough and Chelsea response

The hosts started the match with aggressive intent and opened the scoring...

Coco Gauff demonstrated her trademark resilience on Saturday to secure her place in the last 16 of the 2026 Italian Open following a tense battle with Solana Sierra.

The American third seed was forced to dig deep on the Rome clay after dropping a tight opening set to her Argentine rival. She bounced back emphatically to deliver a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory after two hours and 10 minutes of gruelling tennis.

Despite a completely one-sided middle set, Sierra proved to be a remarkably stubborn opponent throughout the encounter. The Argentine capitalised on her chances by converting six of her...

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the 81st Victory Day commemorations in Moscow on May 9, participating in a historic Red Square parade that went ahead without ground military vehicles for the first time in nearly two decades.

The Uzbek leader was joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and a host of foreign dignitaries to mark the anniversary of the victory in World War II. According to the Uzbek presidential press service, the international delegation included Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a formal meeting in Moscow on May 8 to strengthen their strategic partnership and review the implementation of previously established high-level agreements.

The diplomatic talks commenced with the two presidents exchanging mutual congratulations to mark the 81st anniversary of the World War II victory. Following the commemorative formalities, the leaders shifted their focus to the continued development of the broader strategic alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia.

A significant portion of the dialogue centred on trade and economic relations. Both presidents acknowledged a steady growth in bilateral trade turnover...

As the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues to dominate the global box office with takings rapidly surpassing $300 mln, details of the leading cast’s lucrative contracts have emerged. According to multiple sources speaking to Variety, Meryl Streep used her considerable influence to ensure equal pay for her primary co-stars.

A favoured nations deal

Returning as the intimidating fashion editor Miranda Priestly, the 21-time Oscar nominee was undeniably the most vital component for filmmakers and distributor 20th Century Studios. Insiders reveal that Streep was offered a base salary of $12.5 mln for the David...

Italian authorities have arrested the country’s former ambassador to Uzbekistan on suspicion of orchestrating a highly lucrative and illegal Schengen visa network for Russian citizens.

According to the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica, prosecutors allege that Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini seized direct control of the embassy’s visa department shortly after assuming his diplomatic post in Tashkent in December 2024. Investigators claim the diplomat collaborated with Tatiana Tarakanova, a dual Russian and Italian citizen, to issue long-term European visas via travel agencies located in Moscow.

While the official consular fee for a Schengen visa typically ranges from €45 to...

Following a presidential directive from Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Defense has published a comprehensive collection of UFO files to its official website.

The move follows a surge in public fascination with the cosmos, spurred by the first congressional hearings on the subject in half a century back in 2022. The topic gained further traction this February when former President Barack Obama stated in an interview that aliens are “real”. He subsequently walked back the comment to clarify that while statistical probability strongly favours extraterrestrial life, he never personally saw any proof while in office.

Citing this massive...

Global K-pop sensation Lisa from the hit girl group BLACKPINK is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to an exclusive report by The Athletic, FIFA has finalised the musical line-ups for three separate opening events to celebrate the tournament’s co-hosts: Canada, the United States and Mexico.

A triple opening celebration

Because the tournament is split across three North American nations, FIFA has scheduled bespoke opening ceremonies ahead of each host country’s first match.

Lisa will take to the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12 ahead of...

International health agencies are monitoring a potential geographic spread of the Andes hantavirus after detecting two new suspected infections linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship thousands of miles away from the initial outbreak, Reuters reports.

Secondary transmission investigations

The latest suspected cases involve a British passenger who disembarked on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha and a 32-year-old woman in Alicante, Spain.

Spanish health official Javier Padilla confirmed the woman is currently undergoing testing for mild respiratory symptoms. She had shared a flight in Johannesburg on April 25 with an infected Dutch cruise passenger...

The FIA has announced a significant revision to Formula 1 engine regulations for the 2027 season, moving away from the controversial 50:50 split between internal combustion and electric power introduced this year.

Following severe criticism of the new-for-2026 machinery, motorsport’s governing body confirmed that internal combustion engine (ICE) output will be increased by approximately 50kW (67bhp). This will be offset by an equal reduction in energy recovery system (ERS) deployment, aiming to resolve widespread drivability issues and severe safety risks.

Addressing the 2026 controversy

The introduction of the 2026 regulations promised smaller and more agile cars but was...

Actress Zoe Kravitz publicly criticised Hulu after the streaming platform used a reference to her fiancé Harry Styles in a promotional post for her canceled series High Fidelity.

According to media reports, Hulu shared a social media post featuring Kravitz’s character from the 2020 series alongside a caption referencing Styles’ latest album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. Kravitz reportedly responded in the comments by calling the post «tacky.» The post was later deleted.

Fans online largely supported Kravitz, with many criticising Hulu for referencing her personal relationship years after cancelling the show following its first season. Kravitz...

UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski is facing growing criticism over comments linked to antisemitism debates and his reaction to a recent police operation following a stabbing attack in London.

The controversy intensified after Polanski reshared a social media post criticizing police officers involved in the arrest of a suspect accused of stabbing two Jewish men in the Golders Green area of north London. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley publicly rebuked the Green leader, saying the comments undermined officers responding to a dangerous situation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also criticized Polanski, calling his remarks «disgraceful» and arguing...

The Pentagon has released the first batch of previously classified files related to unidentified flying objects, or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), following a transparency directive issued earlier this year by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The documents include more than 160 files containing military reports, pilot testimonies, photographs, videos, FBI records, and NASA mission transcripts dating back decades. Among the materials are accounts from Apollo-era astronauts and military personnel describing unexplained aerial sightings.

The files were published through a new government website as part of a broader declassification initiative involving the Pentagon, NASA, the FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies...

China and India are intensifying efforts to expand their influence in Central Asia through competing regional connectivity and economic initiatives, according to a new analysis published by Eurasia Review.

The report says China has strengthened its position in the region through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), investing heavily in infrastructure, energy, and transport projects across Central Asia. Beijing’s geographic proximity and financial resources have helped it become one of the region’s leading economic partners.

India, meanwhile, is seeking to expand ties through its «Connect Central Asia» policy, focusing on trade, energy cooperation, digital connectivity, and cultural diplomacy...

Saudi Arabia reportedly refused to allow the United States to use its airspace and military bases for a planned operation in the Strait of Hormuz, creating tensions between Washington and Gulf allies amid rising regional instability.

According to multiple media reports citing U.S. officials, the restrictions affected «Project Freedom,» a U.S.-led mission intended to escort commercial vessels through the strategic waterway after attacks linked to escalating tensions with Iran.

Reports said Riyadh denied U.S. aircraft access to Prince Sultan Air Base and Saudi airspace, forcing Washington to pause the operation shortly after it was announced.

The Strait of...

Pakistan and Uzbekistan are expanding cooperation at the municipal level as work advances on the planned Babur Park project in Islamabad.

According to Pakistani media, Capital Development Authority Chairman Sohail Ashraf and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtayev discussed new initiatives focused on urban development, beautification projects, and stronger ties between Islamabad and Uzbek cities.

The Uzbek ambassador said formal work had begun on Babur Park along Faisal Avenue, describing it as a gift from Uzbekistan to the people of Pakistan. The project is expected to become one of Islamabad’s major recreational spaces and a symbol of friendship...

In a bid to bypass traditional Hollywood platforms and engage directly with her audience, Emmy-winning actress Jaime Pressly has announced the launch of an OnlyFans profile, TMZ reports. The 48-year-old star opened the account on Thursday, describing the venture as an opportunity to operate entirely on her own terms.

Speaking to People magazine, the actress highlighted the rapidly changing landscape of the entertainment sector. Pressly noted that her decision was heavily influenced by the positive interactions she recently experienced with supporters at various comic-con events.

Seeking a digital equivalent to those face-to-face encounters, she chose the subscription...

The FIA has formally revised the regulations surrounding Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) in response to significant adjustments to the Formula 1 race calendar.

The ADUO system was implemented ahead of the current season to coincide with the introduction of the sport’s new power unit regulations. The framework is designed to provide targeted development support to engine manufacturers that fall significantly behind the benchmark performance.

Initial regulations dictated that the FIA would assess engine performance at three specific intervals during the season: after rounds six, 12 and 18. However, the cancellation of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands...

Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has taken delivery of a custom-built Riva 102’ Corsaro Super, expanding his maritime fleet during a private launch ceremony at the Ferretti Group’s La Spezia shipyard on Thursday.

The Monegasque racing driver already owns a Riva 82’ Diva. Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi stated that the repeat purchase underscores the Italian brand’s engineering and aesthetic appeal.

«Charles’s passion for Riva, which is of course reciprocal, is a testament to quality and beauty that we welcome with boundless joy,» Galassi said, adding that the driver’s choice highlights the vessel’s “unrivalled standards...