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Japan is preparing to hold its first summit with the five Central Asian republics, with talks likely to take place in Tokyo as early as mid December, NHK reports.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have maintained ministerial dialogue with Japan for more than two decades, yet their first leaders’ meeting has never materialised.

Originally the summit was planned in Kazakhstan in August last year, but it was abruptly cancelled after Japan issued an advisory about the risk of a major earthquake.

The five nations, all former Soviet republics, retain close relations with Russia while also seeing rising engagement...

Eva Green has joined the cast of Netflix’s hit series Wednesday, taking on the role of Aunt Ophelia in Season 3. The character was teased in the closing moments of the Season 2 finale, which showed only the back of her head and prompted widespread fan speculation. Green’s casting confirms that Aunt Ophelia is not connected to Lady Gaga’s character Rosalyn Rottwood, as some viewers theorised.

Ophelia Frump is the sister of Morticia Addams, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. According to the show’s mythology, she was institutionalised at Willow Hill by the sisters’ mother, Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley), before...

A devastating fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has killed at least 44 people, with 279 residents still unaccounted for, as emergency crews continue overnight rescue operations.

More than 800 firefighters have been battling the blaze at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex. Authorities say the fire is now under control in four of the eight apartment blocks, but intense flames and heavy smoke continue to hamper access to the remaining buildings.

The incident has been declared a Level Five fire — Hong Kong’s highest emergency rating.

Local media report that a baby and an elderly woman have been...

Aston Martin has confirmed that design icon Adrian Newey will take over as Team Principal at the start of next year as part of an expanded role as Managing Technical Partner. Newey joined the team on March 1 after nearly twenty years with Red Bull and has already been working on the 2026 car.

Under his updated remit he will lead the technical department and oversee trackside operations. Andy Cowell, who has served as both Team Principal and CEO while overseeing major structural reforms, will move into the position of Chief Strategy Officer. His new responsibilities include strengthening technical...

Sir Elton John has spoken publicly about major vision loss, calling the past 15 months «devastating» after an infection in 2024 left him blind in his right eye and with limited sight in his left. The music icon said he has been unable to watch or read anything, though recent treatments have brought slight improvement.

Elton credited friends and technology for helping him stay connected during the ordeal. Using his iPad to see faces up close, he has remained in touch with fellow musicians including Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and Pete Townshend, who he says check in on...

A new report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission says China used the May 7–10 India-Pakistan confrontation to test its latest combat systems in real battlefield conditions, marking the first time Chinese weapons such as the J-10 fighter jet, HQ-9 air defense system and PL-15 missiles were used in high-intensity conflict.

The report, published on November 18, concludes that Beijing took advantage of the crisis, known in India as Operation Sindoor, as Pakistan relied heavily on Chinese-supplied weapons, intelligence support and command-and-control networks during the fighting. The clash followed a deadly insurgent attack in Jammu and...

Amazon has warned customers to stay alert this Black Friday, saying as many as 300 mln shoppers could be targeted by cybercriminals during the year’s busiest online shopping period.

The company says scammers are increasingly impersonating Amazon through fake delivery notices, bogus account-problem alerts and counterfeit social media deals designed to steal personal or financial information. Many victims are lured through emails, text messages or sponsored search results that direct them to fraudulent websites.

«As the busy shopping season approaches, stay informed to recognise impersonation scams,» Amazon said in a customer advisory, stressing that...

The FBI has issued an urgent alert warning that cybercriminals are creating fake versions of the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) website to steal personal and financial information from victims.

These spoofed sites closely mimic the official www.ic3.gov portal, copying its layout, text and graphics to trick users into submitting names, addresses, phone numbers, emails and even banking details. Recent scans highlighted fraudulent domains such as «ichelpindex.com», which appear in search results and sponsored ads.

According to the FBI, scammers lure victims through search engines and online forums, sometimes posing as fellow victims recommending fake IC3 «recovery services.» In...

Brazil’s Cop30 climate summit entered overtime on Friday as nearly 200 nations remained sharply divided over a draft agreement that excludes any call to phase out fossil fuels — a central demand for many countries aiming to curb global warming.

The latest text, released by host Brazil, triggered immediate pushback. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra called the draft «unacceptable», warning that the talks risked ending without a deal.

«What is now on the table is clearly no deal,» he told reporters.

Cop30 President Andre Correa do Lago urged delegates to...

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the alliance is «very worried» about «what’s happening in Georgia», though he stopped short of suggesting that NATO membership for the country was no longer an option.

Speaking to RFE/RL on Monday, Rutte said he was «not naive» about Georgia’s political direction. His remarks came in response to questions about Tbilisi’s deepening ties with China, a relationship that has expanded in recent years through business and infrastructure cooperation, and limited security purchases such as Chinese-made surveillance equipment.

Rutte said NATO had made its concerns «clear» to Georgian officials but stressed that...

WB Int Export, the Uzbek subsidiary of online marketplace Wildberries, has registered a new company called WB Taxi, Kursiv Uzbekistan reports. The company, set up in mid-June, plans to offer taxi services in Uzbekistan with a charter capital of 500,000 sums.

WB Int Export holds 99% of the shares, while 1% belongs to RVB, a joint venture formed from the merger of Wildberries and outdoor advertising operator Russ Outdoor. Kursiv Uzbekistan has contacted the company for further details.

A taxi service under the same brand is currently being tested in Belarus, with mobile apps already available there. In October, Wildberries signalled...

Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov claimed victory at the Chess World Cup in Arpora, Goa on Wednesday. He became the youngest ever World Cup winner. The 19-year-old grandmaster, who earned the title at just 12, entered the tournament as the sixteenth seed, while several top-ranked players were eliminated early.

In the semifinals, Sindarov faced fellow Uzbek Nodirbek Yakubboev, advancing to the final after winning on tiebreaks. By reaching the final against China’s Wei Yi, he also secured qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

The final was decided in the second 15’+10” Rapid tiebreak, where Sindarov emerged victorious over Wei Yi...

Vietnam is preparing for yet another powerful storm as communities in the south-central region reel from the country’s deadliest floods in years, which have left more than 100 people dead or missing.

Typhoon Verbena entered the South China Sea early on Nov 26 and is expected to intensify over the next 24 to 48 hours, according to Japanese and Hong Kong meteorological agencies. The storm is forecast to move westward across open waters on Nov 27, slow down after Nov 28, and weaken later in the week.

Authorities warn that Verbena could trigger another round of heavy rain...

Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, is facing a new lawsuit accusing the company and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, of facilitating more than $1 bn in transactions for Hamas, Hezbollah and other U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.

According to The Financial Times, the suit was filed by hundreds of victims of Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel. Reuters reported that 306 American plaintiffs, including families of those killed, injured, or taken hostage, are leading the case, which also cites subsequent attacks by other militant groups.

The complaint alleges that Binance «knowingly allowed» the transfer of more than...

FIFA has unveiled the seedings for the 2026 World Cup draw, which will be held on December 5 at the John F Kennedy Arts Centre in Washington. Uzbekistan has been placed in Pot Three, while tournament debutants Jordan, Cabo Verde and Curacao have been assigned to Pot Four.

As hosts, the United States, Canada and Mexico will head three of the twelve groups. The remaining 39 qualified teams have been split into pots according to their FIFA ranking. Six winners from the European and intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March have been placed in the final pot, adding...

The third EU-Central Asia Economic Forum opened today in the Uzbek capital, bringing together government officials, business leaders and international organisations to advance trade, investment and connectivity under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.

Broad and Expanding Cooperation

Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, highlighted the growing scope of relations between the two regions.

«We have signed documents in very many different sectors, ranging from combating drugs to border management and environmental issues on the Aral Sea,» Klaar told reporters. «This shows the breadth of the relationship.»

The Tashkent gathering is part of a three-day...

Renewable energy sources have generated 23% of Uzbekistan’s electricity since the start of the year, according to the Ministry of Energy. The government plans to lift this share to 54% by 2030 as new projects come online.

The country currently operates 13 solar plants and five wind farms with a combined capacity of 4,700 MW. Their output has exceeded 9.7 bn kWh, which helped save 2.8 bn cubic metres of natural gas and prevented 4.2 mln tonnes of harmful emissions.

Solar panels with a capacity of 1,900 MW and solar collectors holding 4.85 mln litres are being installed at...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance expects next year’s budget revenue to reach $43.2 bn. The deficit is set at 3% of GDP, in line with fiscal rules.

Value added tax will provide the largest share of income at roughly 40%. Direct taxes are forecast at 22%, while property and resource payments will make up 18%. Excise duties should account for 10% and customs revenue for 8%.

Looking ahead, budget income is projected at $49–49.4 bn in 2027 and up to $54.9 bn in 2028. Officials stressed that growth in revenue collection will stay moderate to avoid pressure on...

The government of Uzbekistan plans to introduce new excise taxes from April 1, 2026, starting with potato chips, which will be taxed at 15,000 soums ($1.26) per kilogram, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Alcohol taxes will also rise. Strong spirits such as vodka and brandy will carry a duty of 48,000 soums ($4) per litre, natural wine 10,000 soums ($0.84), other wines 12,000 soums ($1), and beer 4,000 soums ($0.34) per litre.

Excises on tobacco products including cigars, hookah and heated tobacco, and vapes will increase by 7% from February 2026, with cigarette duties rising by...

The city of Tashkent has launched an extensive programme to combat air pollution, following a decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Caring for greenery: Trees and shrubs along major roads will be washed at least three times a week during the morning hours in summer and autumn. Night-time watering of trees with potable water will also be permitted in the spring and summer.

Duty-free equipment: Air and water purification systems, automated monitoring stations and household filters brought in by citizens or businesses are now exempt from customs duties.

New water features: At least three artificial lakes will be...

Uzbekistan’s My Freighter has launched its first cargo flight from Wenzhou’s Lucheng International Airport in Zhejiang province, eastern China, to Tashkent. The launch coincided with the upcoming consumer seasons, including Black Friday and Christmas.

The B767 aircraft transported 50 tonnes of goods as part of cross-border e-commerce operations. The sideas are aiming to strengthen logistics networks for e-commerce businesses in the economically developed Zhejiang region and neighbouring areas.

With the new Wenzhou-Tashkent route, Wenzhou airport now operates 11 international cargo flights, covering regions in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, and Central Asia. Analysts say these routes provide an alternative transit...

Uzbek citizens spent a total of 290.7 bn soums ($24.4 mln) on veterinary services in the first ten months of 2025, marking a 19% increase compared with the previous year, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Tashkent residents accounted for the majority of spending, shelling out 161.8 bn soums ($13.6 mln), more than half of the national total.

Among the regions, Surkhandarya led in veterinary expenditures with 61.2 bn soums ($5.1 mln), while Syrdarya recorded the lowest spending at just 0.9 bn soums ($75,000).

The figures highlight a growing trend in pet care across Uzbekistan, with urban centres driving...

The European Union has underlined the growing strength of its economic ties with Central Asia, with EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela telling the 3rd EU Central Asia Economic Forum in Tashkent on November 26 that the «business case for partnership» between the regions has never been stronger.

Opening the event, Mr Sikela praised Uzbekistan’s hospitality and said the forum reflected the momentum created by the first EU Central Asia Summit in April.

«We promised to enhance further our cooperation. Today, with this forum, we are putting our shared vision in practice,» he said.

Uzbekistan plans to expand its GDP to $200 bn by 2030, according to the budget message from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Stronger economic growth is expected to push annual income per person to $5,000.

Officials say reaching this level will help cut poverty and improve living standards across the country. The ministry has also upgraded its economic outlook through to 2028 despite global risks. GDP is expected to grow by 7% this year, remain at 7% in both 2026 and 2027, and reach 6.9% in 2028.

The ministry also outlined changes to budget planning. From next year...