News

Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to develop a film based on the wildly popular Labubu dolls, the Hong Kong-designed toys that have become a global TikTok sensation. The project is in its early stages, with no cast, director, or release date confirmed.

It remains unclear whether the adaptation will be live-action or animated, though industry insiders suggest a successful release could launch a full Labubu movie franchise. Sony has not commented on the project timeline or creative approach.

Labubu joins a growing trend of toy-based films that have proven major box office draws. Recent successes like «Barbie,» which...

Azerbaijan has officially become a full member of the Consultative Meetings on Central Asia, announced President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the 7th session of the regional summit in Tashkent.

The inclusion of Azerbaijan marks a significant expansion of the forum, increasing the membership from five to six countries. This decision reflects growing cooperation and the desire to deepen regional dialogue and collaboration on political, economic, and cultural issues.

«With Azerbaijan joining as a full member, the Consultative Meetings now represent a broader and more integrated Central Asian platform,» President Mirziyoyev said, highlighting the importance of strengthening...

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has invited Uzbekistan to partner in developing the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, with a focus on the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. The proposal was made during the second session of the Supreme Interstate Council.

President Tokayev emphasized the potential for joint logistics projects along the corridor, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and trade efficiency.

Beyond transport, he highlighted additional areas of collaboration:

 • Rare Earth Metals:

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could jointly explore and process rare earth minerals, creating new opportunities for industrial development.

 • Water and Energy Cooperation:

Tokayev stressed the importance of...

Belgium has announced plans to expand its diplomatic presence in Central Asia by opening its first-ever embassy in Tashkent. The decision is part of a major reform of the country’s foreign policy network, Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

According to the ministry, Central Asia is viewed as a strategically important region, particularly in light of the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor — the so-called «new Silk Road.»

The ministry emphasizes that Central Asia is already attracting significant foreign investment, and Belgium intends to strengthen its presence in order not to fall behind global trends.

In addition to Tashkent...

Uzbekistan has confirmed its readiness to begin work on joining the unified transit system of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The announcement was made on November 13 during a meeting between EAEU Customs Cooperation Minister Ruslan Davydov and the Chairman of Uzbekistan’s State Customs Committee, Akmalkhuja Mavlonov.

Joining the system is expected to simplify customs procedures and speed up the transit of goods in mutual trade. The meeting also covered the exchange of customs information on cargo and transport, which aims to increase transparency in foreign trade and strengthen regulatory control.

Davydov visited Uzbekistan’s target centre and electronic declaration...

Magzum Mirzagaliev, an adviser to the president of Kazakhstan, could be appointed as the country’s new ambassador to Uzbekistan, according to industry expert Nurlyan Zhumagulov, founder of Energy Monitor, who shared the news on his Telegram channel.

Born in 1978 in Almaty, Mirzagaliev has held several senior positions in Kazakhstan’s energy sector. He has worked at KazMunayGas, served as deputy and vice-minister of energy, and headed the Ministry of Ecology and Energy.

Since 2022, he has repeatedly served as a presidential adviser. His name is now under consideration for a diplomatic post.

Israeli conman Simon Leviev, who gained worldwide attention through the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, has been released from custody in Georgia after spending two months detained while awaiting extradition to Germany, his lawyer confirmed on Friday.

Leviev, 35, born Shimon Yehuda Hayut, became infamous after journalists and media outlets uncovered a long-running pattern of romance scams and financial offences as German officials sought to bring him to trial. He was detained at Batumi airport on September 15following an Interpol red notice requested by Germany and had been held in a penitentiary facility in Kutaisi in western Georgia.

Preparations are underway in Tashkent for the upcoming FIA General Assembly and the FIA Awards ceremony, which will take place in December. This marks the first time in history that Central Asia will host the prestigious event.

A meeting was held today at the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, attended by its leadership and representatives from the National Federation of Motorsport and Karting. Participants discussed the organisation of the large-scale event and reviewed key preparations.

During the meeting, NOC officials issued detailed instructions regarding organisational matters, including ensuring all conditions are met for hosting international delegations, providing high...

Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq has announced the launch of regular flights on the Tashkent–London–Tashkent route, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan has confirmed.

The services will begin on 15 December 2025 and operate twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. Flights will be operated using the Airbus A321-XLR, a new aircraft type for the airline. Landings in the United Kingdom will take place at London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

The launch follows an agreement between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom to increase the number of airlines providing regular flights between the two countries.

US rap star Cardi B has announced the birth of her fourth child, her first with American footballer Stefon Diggs.

The Grammy-winning artist shared the news on Instagram, writing: «I brought new music and a new album to the world! A new baby into my world, and one more reason to be the best version of me, one more reason to love me more than anything else or anyone else.»

Last month, Cardi B released her long-awaited second album, Am I The Drama?, joking publicly that she hoped people would buy it so she...

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has come under renewed scrutiny after admitting she usually sleeps for only two hours a night and often asks her aides to meet at 3am. The revelation has deepened concerns in a country already notorious for overwork and rising burnout.

Sanae Takaichi spoke about her minimal sleep routine after a wave of criticism last week when she called staff to an early morning meeting in Tokyo shortly before a scheduled appearance in parliament. Japanese media dubbed the gathering the «3am study session». It took place barely six hours before a budget committee hearing.

Former US President Donald Trump has announced plans to take legal action against the BBC over how his January 6, 2021 speech was edited by the Panorama programme. The broadcaster has apologised but refused to provide financial compensation.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Trump said:

«We’ll sue them for anywhere between $1 bn and $5 bn, probably sometime next week.»

He added that he felt obliged to act to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Disputed Panorama Edit Sparks Controversy

The controversy arose after the BBC released an edited...

Three Chinese astronauts whose return was postponed after space debris struck their spacecraft have landed safely in China, Reuters reports.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed for the first time that the Shenzhou-20 return capsule suffered «tiny cracks» in one of its small windows. Agency said the damage meant the capsule no longer met safety standards for a crewed descent, so the vessel will remain in orbit to carry out experiments instead. The crew, who had been due home nine days earlier after a six-month mission on the Tiangong space station, were ordered to delay their return.

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has hosted an international forum on employment and sustainable economic growth in Central Asia, featuring the presentation of the World Bank’s new report, «Europe and Central Asia Economic Update: Employment and Prosperity.»

The event brought together officials from Uzbek ministries and government agencies, World Bank representatives, think tanks and independent experts to discuss labor market trends, job creation and the region’s economic resilience.

World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Najy Benhassine said Central Asia faces a «tremendous employment challenge» as its working-age population grows, but praised Uzbekistan’s «confident economic growth driven...

Blue Origin has successfully landed its New Glenn reusable rocket for the first time, marking a major milestone for Jeff Bezos in his long-running space race with Elon Musk.

The 321-foot New Glenn rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida late Thursday, carrying NASA’s Escapade mission – two probes designed to study how Mars lost its atmosphere, due to arrive at the Red Planet in 2027. After deploying the payload, the rocket’s first-stage booster returned to Earth and landed on an ocean barge, ready to be reused.

The landing makes Blue Origin only the second...

Uzbekistan advanced to the final of the Al Ain International Cup in the UAE after a confident 2–0 victory over Egypt on Friday at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

Midfielder Oston Urunov was the hero of the night, scoring twice to secure Uzbekistan’s place in the tournament’s title match, where they will now meet Iran, who defeated Cape Verde in the other semifinal.

Egypt, meanwhile, will face Cape Verde in the third-place playoff on Monday.

The four-team Al Ain International Cup, featuring Iran, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Cape Verde, kicked off on November 13 and will conclude on November...

Uzbekistan booked their place in the Al Ain International Cup final with an impressive 2–0 victory over Egypt, combining disciplined defending with clinical finishing. The result confirms the pre-match expectations outlined in KhelNow’s preview, which highlighted Uzbekistan’s strong recent form and Egypt’s ongoing squad adjustments.

Early momentum favoured Uzbekistan as Oston Urunov struck just four minutes into the match, capitalising on defensive hesitation in the Egyptian back line. Urunov doubled the lead shortly before halftime after beating Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi, giving the White Wolves full control.

Despite moments of early dominance from Egypt, including chance creation driven...

Central Asian countries are targeting $20 bn in interregional trade and plan to develop manufacturing under a unified «Made in Central Asia» brand, according to the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade.

The initiative was discussed in Tashkent during the first meeting of the Council of Trade Ministers from Central Asian nations and Azerbaijan. The goal is to strengthen trade and cooperation across multiple sectors of the economy. Participants also highlighted the growth of trade between Uzbekistan and neighbouring Central Asian states, which has more than doubled since 2017, rising from $3.2 bn to $6.9 bn in 2024.

Trade...

British billionaire Joe Lewis, the former owner of Tottenham Hotspur, has been pardoned by Donald Trump. He was convicted in 2024 for his role in what prosecutors described as a brazen insider trading scheme.

Lewis, now 88, was fined $5 mln (£3.8 mln) and given three years probation by a New York judge last year. He avoided prison after pleading guilty to passing inside information in a scheme that prosecutors said was intended to benefit friends, romantic partners and staff.

His legal team had initially argued that the charges of fraud and conspiracy were an egregious mistake, yet Lewis...

Core AI Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHAI) has announced plans to build a network of AI data centres, starting with projects in Uzbekistan and Malaysia. The company, valued at $46.33 mln, has seen its share price fall sharply over the past year, although it has recorded a small rebound in recent days.

Core AI aims to secure multi-billion-dollar partnerships with governments, private investors and global banks. It expects to reveal timelines and investment plans by early 2026.

Malaysia’s data centre market is expanding rapidly, supported by a $150 bn technology agreement with the United States. Uzbekistan is also developing its...

According to the World Bank, Uzbekistan continues to rank among the fastest-growing economies in the region. The country’s GDP is projected to expand by 6.2% in 2025 and by 6% in 2026. Kyrgyzstan is also expected to make a significant contribution to Central Asia’s overall economic performance.

These figures were outlined in the World Bank’s report Economy of Europe and Central Asia: Employment and Welfare, presented on November 13 in Tashkent at the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms. Najy Benhassine, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Central Asia, noted that the region’s working-age population will grow considerably over the...

Uzbekistan has launched its national pavilion on Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com, according to Dunyo.

The pavilion will help promote high-value Uzbek products in China and integrate local sellers into cross-border online trade. It offers a convenient “one-stop shop” for exporters, covering everything from online storefronts and advertising to logistics, payments, and after-sales service.

A wide range of goods will be available on the platform, including textiles, footwear, food products, home items, and handcrafted crafts, all tailored to meet Chinese market standards.

«The launch of the national pavilion provides Uzbek companies with a direct channel to...

US private equity company Carlyle is examining the possibility of acquiring Russian oil company Lukoil’s foreign assets, Reuters reports.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Lukoil as part of its efforts to push the Kremlin towards peace talks over Ukraine. These sanctions have also blocked Lukoil’s attempt to sell assets to Swiss-based trader Gunvor before the November 21 deadline.

Lukoil produces roughly 2% of the world’s oil output domestically and abroad, with its international assets contributing about 0.5% of global production. These assets are estimated to be worth around $22 bn, based on 2024 filings. Carlyle...

Global banks are heading into 2026 with a largely stable outlook despite growing geopolitical pressures, shifting regulatory landscapes, and increased uncertainty in trade and technology. According to S&P Global’s Global Banking Outlook 2026, 85% of global bank ratings carried a stable outlook as of October 2025, with profitability, liquidity, and capital buffers expected to support the sector through another challenging year.

Geopolitics and trade tensions cast a long shadow

The most significant risks facing banks in 2026 stem from geopolitical instability. The Russia–Ukraine war remains unresolved, while tensions in the Middle East could flare up again and disrupt...