News

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued a joint statement outlining a broad upgrade of bilateral relations following Stubb’s official visit to Tashkent on October 30–31.

Key steps include a Memorandum of Understanding creating an Uzbek–Finnish Business Council to spur trade, investment and private-sector links, and commitments to expand cooperation in manufacturing, green technologies, advanced industries, innovation, tourism and culture. The leaders also highlighted deeper ties between parliaments, think tanks and universities, building on Finland’s expertise in child-centred, play-based education and the Erasmus+ program.

Finland backed Uzbekistan’s WTO accession bid, while both sides discussed ethically...

Uzbekistan has sent more than 20 varieties of traditional crops, including melons, watermelons, wheat and eggplants, to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, the Ministry of Agriculture announced.

The seeds, many of which are ancient Uzbek varieties, were delivered with support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), NordGen and Uzbekistan’s Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. Officials say the move helps protect the country’s agricultural heritage and supports global food security efforts.

Among the stored seeds is the native «Qayroqtosh» wheat variety, valued for its cultural and scientific importance.

Located deep in the Arctic permafrost, the Svalbard...

Israeli security agencies are preparing for a potential large-scale attack by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, similar to the Hamas assault on October 7, Israeli media reported on Friday.

According to sources cited by Walla, the IDF and Mossad believe militias supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could launch missiles and drones from Iraqi territory against Israeli targets. A ground operation through Iraq and Syria toward the Jordan-Israel border is considered a secondary option.

The report says Esmail Qaani, commander of the IRGC-Quds Force, recently held meetings in Iraq with militia leaders to coordinate potential operations. Groups such...

A Bolton woman who believes she spoke to a ghost as a child is now leading an all-female paranormal investigation group in the North West.

Emma Flood says that when she was a young girl, a friendly man who «looked a bit like Fred Dibnah» would visit her at night and chat with her. Her mother thought it was an imaginary friend, but Emma now believes she was seeing a spirit.

Today, Emma runs Para-Northern, a Lancashire-based ghost-hunting team that investigates reported paranormal activity in homes and historic buildings. The group uses cameras, voice recorders and other devices to...

India reached the Women’s World Cup final after pulling off the highest run chase in women’s internationals, beating Australia by five wickets.

Chasing 339, India made 341/5 at the DY Patil Stadium. Jemimah Rodrigues was the hero with 127 not out off 134 balls, sharing a 167-run stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur who hit 89. Australia dropped Rodrigues twice in the closing stages, chances that proved costly.

Australia had posted 338 after Phoebe Litchfield smashed 119, with support from Ellyse Perry 77 and Ash Gardner 63. Skipper Alyssa Healy said her side «let ourselves down» with bat, ball and...

Bitcoin fell to $106,200 right before Halloween, dropping nearly 5% in hours, then quickly rebounded about 4% above $108,700. Traders say the move looks like a shakeout that reset sentiment, not random volatility.

Momentum signals back that view. The RSI showed a bullish divergence as price made a lower low, and charts now point to an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern building. A daily close above the $116,400 neckline would confirm a breakout.

On-chain data also turned supportive. NUPL slipped to 0.483, a six-month low that often marks weak hands exiting while long-term holders stay put. The next test is the...

Kanye West is reportedly planning a major comeback in the fashion world with the launch of a new fashion and beauty brand alongside his wife Bianca Censori, in what insiders describe as a «revenge play» against his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The launch is expected to take place on December 11, according to a teaser website unveiled by the couple.

A «Revenge» Project Against Kim’s Empire

Sources close to the couple claim that Ye and Bianca, aged 48 and 30 respectively, are crafting the brand to directly compete with Kim’s multi-billion-dollar ventures, SKIMS and SKKN.

Former NFL star Tom Brady has opened up about the challenges of balancing life as a father, broadcaster and businessman, admitting in his latest newsletter that «life finally caught up to me» after a hectic few weeks.

The retired quarterback, now 48, revealed that he had been feeling rundown and «a little under the weather» as he juggled his duties as a father of three and his growing list of professional commitments.

«It’s Been a Crazy October»

Brady, who shares 18-year-old Jack with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan and two younger children, Benjamin and Vivian, with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, described...

King Charles has stripped his younger brother Andrew of his title of prince and ordered him to vacate his royal residence after renewed public scrutiny sparked by the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. The decision, announced on October 30 and backed by Prince William, represents one of the most decisive and controversial actions against a member of the royal family in modern British history.

Allegations Resurface in Giuffre’s Memoir

In her book Nobody’s Girl, Giuffre claimed that as a teenager she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions at the request of Jeffrey Epstein...

In Samarkand, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay with the Dustlik (Friendship) Order, recognising her significant role in strengthening cooperation in science, education and culture, as well as her support in promoting Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage on the global stage.

During their meeting, the two sides discussed deepening the partnership between Uzbekistan and UNESCO across various fields.

Azoulay congratulated President Mirziyoyev on hosting the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, marking the first time in 40 years that the event has been held outside Paris. She praised both the organisation and content of the...

Disney’s television networks have been removed from Google’s YouTube TV after negotiations for a new licensing agreement collapsed late on October 30. Both companies confirmed the breakdown in separate statements.

The blackout affects major Disney-owned channels such as ESPN, ABC, FX, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Disney Channel, and ABC News Live. According to a source quoted by Reuters, Disney’s networks were pulled from YouTube TV shortly before the contract officially expired at midnight. YouTube TV announced the removal on X (formerly Twitter) at 11:16 pm ET.

Standoff Between Media Giants

YouTube TV, which has more than...

A supercomputer has forecast the final Premier League table, predicting that Arsenal will finally lift the trophy after three straight seasons finishing as runners-up.

The simulation, conducted by CasinoHawks, projects that the Gunners will end the campaign with 90 points and 28 wins from 38 matches, making them clear favourites for the title.

Liverpool to Finish Second Despite Poor Form

According to the model, Liverpool will finish second on 77 points, even though Arne Slot’s side have endured a difficult spell with four consecutive league defeats, dropping them to seventh in the current standings.

Manchester City and Chelsea

A press conference was held on October 31, 2025 at the headquarters of the Uzbek Republican Commodity Exchange (UzEx) to review the results of its operations for the first nine months of the year. The exchange reported strong performance across all trading segments, driven by growth in digital platforms and expanding client participation.

Strong Performance Across All Trading Platforms

Between January and September 2025, over 150,500 new clients joined the UzEx trading system, while more than 2.6 mln deals were completed. The total trade volume increased by 30.3% compared with the same period in 2024, including a 30.2% rise...

Uzbekistan has taken a major step in digital transformation through the MIT Tech Leaders Lab, a programme held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in October 2025. The initiative brought together delegates from the Ministry of Digital Technologies, IT Park Uzbekistan and national research institutes to strengthen leadership in artificial intelligence and innovation.

The week-long course combined academic and practical training led by MIT experts and Silicon Valley innovators. Participants explored sustainable development, venture ecosystems, and the use of AI in management and education.

«Uzbekistan faces a strategic task — to prepare a generation of leaders...

At the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented a wide range of initiatives aimed at developing education, science, culture, and heritage protection.

He emphasised the importance of ensuring equal learning opportunities for all children, including those with special needs. To this end, he proposed the creation of a UNESCO platform for inclusive education and the organisation of a World Summit on Vocational Education to foster international exchange of experience.

The president also called for greater integration of artificial intelligence into education through the launch of an «AI School» project. A global expert forum on...

Extensive restoration and exhibition renewal works in Samarkand have been completed, with the Amir Temur Mausoleum and the Ulugh Beg and Tilla-Kari madrasas on Registan Square now reopened to visitors. The announcement was made by Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan.

The restored complexes now feature hundreds of rare artefacts, ranging from Mirzo Ulugh Beg’s handwritten manuscripts to archival documents related to the history of Amir Temur. Many exhibits have been presented using modern multimedia formats to enhance visitor experience.

«It is especially gratifying that guests of the 43rd session of the...

Plug Power Inc. has signed a supply agreement with Allied Biofuels FE LLC (ABF) to deliver up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of its GenEco PEM electrolyzer systems for a landmark renewable fuels project in Uzbekistan.

The electrolyzers will power ABF’s new production facility for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) and green diesel, with a final investment decision expected in late 2026.

This latest agreement builds on Plug’s previously announced 3 GW collaboration with Allied Green Ammonia (AGA) in Australia, bringing the total contracted capacity between Plug and its Allied partners to 5 GW across two large-scale...

Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin and a group of writers are seeing early success in their copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, with a U.S. judge allowing multiple legal arguments to move forward.

The authors claim OpenAI illegally used their books to train AI models and that some works were scraped from pirated online libraries. They also argue that ChatGPT produces responses that closely mimic their plots, characters and themes, amounting to unlawful copying. If the case succeeds, damages could reach up to $150K per infringed work.

A judge ruled that readers could «easily conclude» that AI-generated summaries are...

The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway marks its eighth anniversary, underscoring its role as the shortest land link from China to Europe via Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye.

Built to anchor the East–West transport corridor, the 850-kilometre line includes more than 500 km in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund has allocated $745.9 mln to BTK-related works.

Modernisation on the Georgian section, completed in 2024, lifted annual handling capacity from 1 mln to 5 mln tons. Today the corridor moves about 6–8 mln tons of freight each year, with plans to reach 17 mln tons and carry 3 mln passengers in the coming...

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) strengthened its position as a key regional player at the 2025 Gabala Summit in Azerbaijan, held under the theme Regional Peace and Security. Founded in 2009 as a cultural bloc and institutionalised in 2018, the OTS now coordinates across economics, defense and education with regular ministerial meetings.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, attending as an observer, praised the Turkic world’s commitment to peace and framed Hungary as a bridge to the West. Summit outcomes included new economic cooperation tracks and proposals for joint security initiatives, signaling OTS’ growing influence across Greater Eurasia.

A headline...

Sumitomo Corporation and partners ACWA Power, Shikoku Electric (Yonden) and Chubu Electric (CHUBU) have signed project financing agreements for a landmark clean-energy project in Uzbekistan: 1,000 MW of solar power with 1,336 MWh of battery energy storage in the Samarkand and Bukhara regions.

Lenders include the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Islamic Development Bank. Private-sector loans will be covered by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) under overseas untied insurance.

The project, developed through ACWA Power Sazagan Solar 1 & 2, will sell power to JSC National...

Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said a «Palestinian party» violated the ceasefire after an Israeli soldier was reportedly killed in Rafah on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, he told interviewer Ayman Mohyeldin the attack was «a violation by the Palestinian party.» He noted Hamas claimed it was not in contact with the group involved, but said there is no verification of that claim.

Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered retaliatory strikes on Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry cited by Al Jazeera, 104 people were killed, mostly women and children...

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing. The announcement came in a brief post on Truth Social ahead of his meeting with China’s Xi Jinping. Trump cited testing by other countries and said the U.S. must act «on an equal basis.»

It is not clear if the order means a return to explosive tests. The U.S. last carried out an underground nuclear test in Nevada in 1992. Experts warned that any explosive testing would raise tensions with Russia and China and risk radioactive releases.

Beatrice Fihn of the International Campaign to...

China says it has reached a «consensus» with the United States on key economic issues after talks between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said both sides discussed TikTok, tariffs and rare earths, and agreed on next steps. It gave few details.

Xi urged both teams to finish follow-up work soon and turn the consensus into «tangible results» for China, the US and the global economy. He said ties have seen «twists and turns» and called on Washington to focus on long-term gains from cooperation, not a cycle of retaliation. Xi also highlighted China’s growth...