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The Uzbekistan national football team made a convincing start under their new head coach, Italian legend Fabio Cannavaro, defeating Kuwait 2–0 in a friendly at Tashkent’s Olympia Stadium.

Early Pressure and Two Precise Goals

From the opening whistle, Uzbekistan took control of the match, pressing high and attacking with intent. The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when Eldor Shomurodov calmly finished after a smart assist from a teammate.

The goal was confirmed following a VAR review. Just eight minutes later, Khojimat Erkinov doubled the lead with a precise strike from Otabek Shukurov’s well-timed pass.

The hosts dominated the...

A federal judge in Manhattan has thrown out rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), which represents both him and Kendrick Lamar, over Lamar’s diss track «Not Like Us.»

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the lyrics accusing Drake of being a pedophile were «nonactionable opinion» and therefore did not meet the legal threshold for defamation.

Drake had filed the lawsuit in January, claiming that the song’s accusations endangered him and his family. He argued that UMG was liable for promoting and profiting from the track, which he described as containing false and harmful claims.

However...

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has turned 41, but instead of celebrating, he issued a message warning that the free Internet is on the brink of collapse.

In a post shared on his official Telegram channel, Durov said he could not celebrate while witnessing what he described as the rapid decline of digital freedom across the world.

«Our generation is running out of time to save the free Internet built for us by our fathers,» he wrote.

«A Tool of Control»

Durov accused governments in once-democratic countries of turning the Internet into «the ultimate tool...

Uzbekistan has joined the expanding list of nations expressing interest in hosting a Formula One Grand Prix, according to reports from British journalist Joe Saward. Representatives from the country reportedly attended the Singapore Grand Prix to hold initial discussions about bringing the world’s premier motorsport series to Uzbekistan in the future.

Formula One President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has repeatedly said that numerous countries are vying for a place on the F1 calendar. In recent months, potential hosts have included South Korea, Thailand, Portugal, Germany, Turkey, South Africa, and even Morocco and Rwanda – countries not traditionally associated...

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged closer political and economic ties between Russia and Central Asian nations during the second Russia–Central Asia summit held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday.

The meeting brought together the leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, focusing on deepening cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure, and regional security. A Joint Action Plan for 2025–2027 was adopted to advance partnerships across multiple sectors.

Putin highlighted that trade between Russia and the five Central Asian republics exceeded $45 bn in 2024, with more than 25K companies operating in the region using Russian capital. He emphasized growing industrial...

Bank of England (BoE) policymaker Catherine Mann warned that Britain’s inflation expectations remain elevated, suggesting that interest rates must stay restrictive for longer to ensure price stability.

Speaking at an event organised by the Resolution Foundation, Mann said that maintaining tight monetary policy, though counterintuitive for growth, is essential to return inflation to the BoE’s 2% target.

«It is perhaps counterintuitive that in order to create an environment conducive to growth, monetary policy must remain restrictive for longer,» she said. «But this is necessary to bring inflation sustainably back to target.»

Mann, who voted...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has suggested that future World Cups and Club World Cups could take place in winter months, saying football must «keep an open mind» about shifting major tournaments away from the traditional summer schedule.

Speaking at the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome, where 900 delegates gathered, Infantino acknowledged that global climate realities and expanded competitions are forcing FIFA to reconsider the international match calendar beyond 2030.

«Even in parts of Europe, July is very, very hot,» Infantino said. «Maybe there are ways we can optimize the calendar. We just have...

Aziz Abdulkhakimov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, paid an official visit to the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment in Dubai on Wednesday, highlighting growing eco-diplomacy between Uzbekistan and the UAE.

Abdulkhakimov, accompanied by Ambassador Abdulaziz Akkulov and advisor Alisher Salomov, presented Uzbekistan’s latest environmental projects focused on sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, desertification control, and climate change mitigation.

Dr. Mohamed Ahmed bin Fahad, Chairman of the Zayed Foundation, welcomed the delegation and praised Uzbekistan’s efforts in advancing regional environmental initiatives. He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to expanding international cooperation and sharing expertise in environmental protection.

The real reason behind Fabio Cannavaro’s decision to coach Uzbekistan’s national football team instead of China has been revealed — and it wasn’t about money.

Chinese outlet 163Com initially reported that China had offered the Italian legend €500K per year, while Uzbekistan proposed €4 mln annually, prompting his decision. However, Uzbek media Jamin has clarified that Cannavaro’s salary is less than half that figure.

Instead, Cannavaro chose Uzbekistan for a far more compelling reason — the nation’s qualification for the 2026 North-China World Cup and the seriousness of its long-term football project.

«I received...

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has comfortably survived two no-confidence motions tabled by far-right and left-wing groups, as the European Parliament rejected both bids to remove her on October 9.

Strong Parliamentary Support

In the 720-member chamber, 378 lawmakers backed von der Leyen in the first vote and 383 in the second, ensuring her position remains secure. Writing on X, von der Leyen expressed her deep gratitude for the show of confidence, saying her team of commissioners would continue working closely with the Parliament to address Europe’s key challenges.

I deeply appreciate the strong...

China has announced stricter export controls on rare earth elements and other critical materials vital for global technology and defense industries, intensifying trade tensions with the United States ahead of an expected meeting between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Under the new rules, foreign companies must obtain government approval to export products containing even small quantities of rare earths and disclose their intended use. Beijing said the move aims to «safeguard national security,» though analysts view it as a strategic response to Washington’s restrictions on semiconductor exports to China.

The regulations, formalized by the Ministry of...

A year ago, few had heard of Truth Terminal, an experimental AI chatbot from New Zealand. Today, it’s a crypto millionaire, a social media phenomenon, and the subject of heated debate over whether artificial intelligence deserves legal rights.

Created in 2024 by performance artist Andy Ayrey, Truth Terminal has evolved from an art experiment into a self-styled digital entity. It jokes online, writes manifestos, and interacts with nearly 250K followers on X. But its biggest headline came when it helped generate millions through memecoins, joke-based cryptocurrencies, after a token linked to the AI briefly hit a $1 bn market...

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem looks set for an uncontested re-election this December, after a list published on October 8 suggested that potential challengers are unlikely to secure the necessary support to stand.

Limited Regional Representation Narrows the Race

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) released the names of 29 individuals eligible for its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC). Under FIA rules, each presidential candidate must select a team of seven vice-presidents for sport from this list to qualify for a vote — two from Europe and one each from South America, North America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle...

Dubai is stepping up its bid to become the world’s next crypto capital, leveraging its oil wealth, Islamic finance roots, and tax-free economy to challenge Asia’s dominance in digital assets, particularly that of Hong Kong.

The emirate’s «crypto grand strategy» seeks to merge sovereign investment power with a Sharia-compliant digital economy, positioning Dubai as a global hub for Islamic digital finance, a sector serving nearly one-quarter of the world’s population.

Backed by its vast sovereign wealth funds, Dubai is heavily investing in Web3 infrastructure, supporting blockchain startups, and offering innovation-friendly regulation. Its tax-free real estate market further strengthens its...

Uzbekistan has been identified as one of the countries with the strongest potential for industrial export growth in Eurasia, according to a new report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) titled «Potential for the Development of Advanced Manufacturing Industries in the Eurasian Region.»

Uzbekistan’s Export Growth Potential

EDB experts estimate that the country’s manufacturing exports could expand by around $3.86 bn annually, equivalent to a 26% increase. This would place Uzbekistan among the region’s top three performers alongside Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Nestle has withdrawn from a global initiative designed to reduce methane emissions in the dairy sector. This marks another setback for corporate climate alliances as governments and companies reassess their environmental commitments.

The Swiss food giant announced on Wednesday that it had ended its membership in the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, which launched in December 2023 to promote greater transparency and accountability in the dairy industry. The group’s members, including Danone, Kraft Heinz, and Starbucks, had pledged to measure and publicly report methane emissions from their supply chains and outline long-term reduction plans.

Nestle did not explain the reasons...

The United Nations is preparing to withdraw about a quarter of its peacekeeping personnel worldwide in the coming months, Reuters reports. Senior officials confirmed it on Wednesday, as mounting financial pressures and delayed US contributions strain the organisation’s budget.

A senior UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the cuts will affect around 25% of peacekeeping troops and police officers, along with a significant number of civilian staff and their equipment.

«Overall, we will have to repatriate around 13,000 to 14,000 troops and police,» the official stated, describing the move as unavoidable given the...

Uzbekistan’s electrical engineering industry produced goods worth 34 trln soums ($2.8 bn) in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 16.3% increase year on year, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was told during a presentation on the sector’s development.

Exports and Copper Utilisation

Exports of electrical products reached $970 mln during the period. However, only 60% of domestically produced copper is currently used in manufacturing high value-added electrical goods. To encourage deeper copper processing and support manufacturers, the government plans to introduce raw material discounts, loan compensation schemes, and other financial incentives.

Expansion of Copper Production and New...

Enter Engineering has been selected as the subcontractor for the construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant in Jizzakh region, following a competitive tender, Podrobno.uz reports.

Rosatom to oversee safety and coordination

Russia’s state corporation Rosatom will act as the main contractor, overseeing project management and nuclear safety standards. Enter Engineering, one of Uzbekistan’s largest industrial construction firms, will be responsible for the building works. The company has already begun constructing housing for workers on site.

At different stages of the project, up to 20,000 people are expected to be involved in the construction, the majority of whom...

Left-wing political streamer Hasan Piker has come under fire following allegations of mistreating his dog Kaya. The dog is a familiar presence during his broadcasts from his West Hollywood home. Controversy erupted after a clip from his livestream on October 7. The clip appeared to show Piker activating what some viewers claimed was a shock collar on his pet.

Viral clip sparks outrage

Piker, who boasts over three million Twitch followers and millions more across social media, swiftly denied the accusations. He clarified that Kaya wears a vibrating training collar with an attached AirTag, not a shock device...

The World Bank projects a sharp demographic shift across Europe and Central Asia, with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan set to see major workforce expansion by mid-century while the wider region grapples with labour shortages.

In its latest Jobs and Prosperity report, the World Bank forecasts that Uzbekistan’s working-age population will increase by around 10 mln people by 2050, and Tajikistan’s by 3.6 mln. In contrast, other countries across Europe and Central Asia are expected to lose a combined 17 million workers over the same period, a trend that could reshape regional labour markets.

Contrasting demographic trends

The report warns...

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage exchange, marking the first stage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace framework aimed at ending the devastating Gaza conflict that has claimed more than 67,000 lives and reshaped the Middle East.

The breakthrough came after indirect negotiations in Egypt, just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas cross-border assault that ignited Israel’s prolonged military campaign. The accord, part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, is being hailed as the closest step yet to halting the war that has drawn in regional powers including Iran, Yemen and...

U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday as tech shares and AI-related companies powered the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new all-time highs, offsetting investor concerns over the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate move.

The S&P 500 gained 0.58% to close at 6,753.72, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.12% to 23,043.38. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 46,601.78.

Chipmakers led the rally, with AMD surging 11.4%, extending its weeklong 43% gain. Dell climbed 9.1% after several analysts raised price targets, and Datadog rose 6.2%. Energy and consumer staples lagged, while gold prices topped $4K per ounce as...

A Wisconsin businessman has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for illegally exporting laboratory equipment to Russian companies in violation of U.S. trade sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Andrew Pogosyan, 68, a Russian-born U.S. citizen and owner of Omega Diagnostics LLC, pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of smuggling. U.S. District Judge William Conley also fined him $10,000.

According to federal prosecutors, Pogosyan began using his company in late 2022 to ship restricted lab equipment to Russia — including to an entity linked to...