News

The bill was previously passed by Iran’s parliament. Photo: Mostafa Meraji / Unsplash

Iran’s Guardian Council has approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Kommersant reports.

The day before, the bill was backed by the Iranian parliament. For it to take effect, it must now be approved by the Supreme National Security Council.

Earlier, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had proposed a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the continuation of nuclear inspections.

In late June, the U.S. launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. According to...

Wunder Digital has updated its ranking of Uzbek banks’ digital visibility, identifying the top performers in Google and Yandex search results (data obtained by Kursiv Uzbekistan).

Experts compiled the most popular banking-related search queries among Uzbek users and calculated how visible each bank was in the search results.

Compared to the previous report in February 2025, the latest rankings show significant shifts.

Former leader Ipak Yuli fell to second place, overtaken by UzNatsBank (NBU), which had previously ranked third. Aloqabank entered the top three, improving its visibility by 34% since February. Meanwhile, Uzpromstroybank dropped from second to fourth place. Asia...

Uzbekistan’s Senate has approved a law for the country to join the 1963 Vienna Convention, which governs liability for nuclear damage.

The move means Uzbekistan will adopt international standards outlining who is responsible and how compensation is provided in the event of incidents at civilian nuclear facilities. In the case of a nuclear accident, Uzbek citizens will be entitled to claim damages.

The main goal of the legislation is to establish operator liability, set minimum requirements for financial protection, and strengthen public trust in the country’s nuclear safety framework. According to senators, the law will improve protection for victims...

Uzbekistan has not yet made a decision to raise the retirement age, the country’s Pension Fund announced.

«At this time, no final decision has been made regarding pension system reform. The matter is still under study, with analysis and development of proposals underway,» the fund stated.

Previously, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended that Tashkent increase the retirement age. Currently, men in Uzbekistan can retire at 60, and women at 55.

The Pension Fund emphasized that recommendations from international experts are not binding and will be carefully reviewed with respect to their potential...

U.S. financial giant Citigroup plans to open a representative office in Tashkent, according to a statement from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT).

On June 25, MIIT hosted a meeting with a Citigroup delegation led by David Livingstone, Chief Client Officer.

The two sides discussed cooperation in investment, export support, and the development of public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

Citigroup, a multinational investment bank and financial services corporation, was founded in 1998 through the merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group. Headquartered in New York, it is the third-largest U.S. bank by assets and a member of the country’s...

Between January and April 2025, nearly 6,800 French citizens visited Uzbekistan, according to the country’s National Statistics Agency. This marks a 20.8% increase compared to the same period last year.

Statistics show that 6,100 of these visitors cited tourism as their main purpose. Another 380 people came to visit relatives, and 333 arrived for work-related purposes.

In addition:

Kursiv Uzbekistan reports on plans to build a ski resort in the Parkent district.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared that his country has emerged victorious in its standoff with the United States, according to the state news agency IRNA.

Khamenei argued that US President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities revealed the weakness of Washington’s position.

He added that Iran views the US attacks as a sign of fear over the potential destruction of Israel, effectively marking the beginning of direct military confrontation.

Khamenei stated that the current situation proves the growing influence of Iran and the decline of US power in the Middle East.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Iran’s parliament supported suspending cooperation with the IAEA.

International service Bolt, which combines ride-hailing, food delivery, and courier logistics, plans to enter the Uzbekistanmarket.

Umid Shadiev, Chair of Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, discussed the company’s potential launch with Geert-Jan Kistemaker, Bolt’s Global Director for Partner Markets, during a meeting in London.

They agreed to begin with a pilot project in one of Uzbekistan’s major cities, with plans to expand the service nationwide in the future.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Yandex Go had launched its food delivery service in Karshi.

Uzbekistan saved UZS 80 bn ($6.5 mln) in 2024 by optimising costs at state-run specialised medical centres, according to the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights.

The committee helped healthcare institutions reduce certain expenditure lines and lower base prices for medical services by 5–20%. The savings were redirected to provide additional medical assistance to 6,000 patients.

In 2023, similar measures saved UZS 60 bn ($4.8 mln), which enabled treatment for 5,000 patients.

The Competition Committee reviews and approves pricing for medical services at state specialised centres as part of its oversight responsibilities.

Earlier, Kursiv...

Denis Villeneuve, acclaimed director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049, will direct the next instalment in the James Bond franchise, Amazon’s press office has confirmed.

Villeneuve said he has been a fan of Agent 007 since childhood. He thanked the studio for its trust and described the opportunity to direct the next Bond film as both a great responsibility and a personal honour.

“To me, James Bond is sacred ground. I intend to respect the legacy while opening the door to new challenges. It’s an enormous responsibility, but also incredibly exciting and a huge honour,” Villeneuve...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that Uzbekistan transition from its current flat income tax rate to a progressive tax system. The proposal also includes reviewing existing tax exemptions and reducing the number of investment incentives.

Uzbekistan currently applies a flat income tax rate. However, as Gazeta.uz recalls, authorities have previously stated that a progressive system could be introduced once the taxpayer base expands.

The IMF believes that broadening the tax base and reforming the tax system are essential steps to ensure sufficient funding for key social and infrastructure initiatives.

In addition, the IMF has advised the government to...

Japan will support a new pilot project in Uzbekistan to extract methane from biogas, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change has announced.

The initiative will launch in partnership with Japanese company Le One Co., Ltd., following a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology Aziz Abdukhakimov and company president Haruki Yamasaki.

The project involves installing a facility in Uzbekistan that will produce methane from biogas generated from organic waste. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote safe waste processing, and produce biohumus for agricultural use.

The ministry stated that the technology fully aligns with Uzbekistan’s sustainable development goals and the...

Uzbekistan welcomed 9,100 visitors from the United Kingdom between January and May 2025, according to the Tourism Committee, which shared the figures with Kursiv Uzbekistan. The number of British tourists grew by 23.8% year-on-year.

In May alone, 3,100 British nationals travelled to Uzbekistan — a 27.6% increase compared to the same month last year.

The committee noted that Uzbekistan’s tourism potential was presented in London in late June this year. The event featured speeches by Umid Shadiev, Chair of the Tourism Committee, and Ravshan Usmanov, Head of Uzbekistan’s diplomatic mission in the UK. Uzbek travel companies also showcased joint project...

At just 19 years old, Barron Trump, the youngest son of US President Donald Trump, has reportedly earned around $40 mln through his stake in the crypto firm World Liberty Financial, according to Forbes. The company is believed to be founded by members of the Trump family.

Donald Trump commented on his son’s involvement, saying: “He’s young, but he really understands it. He talks about his wallet – I think he has four of them. Meanwhile, I’m still asking what a wallet even is.”

According to the report, Barron, along with his...

The total volume of non-performing loans (NPL) in Uzbekistan’s banks stood at UZS 23.5 trillion ($1.9 bn) as of June 1, 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. The month prior, the figure was slightly higher at UZS 23.6 trillion ($1.91 bn).

Out of the total, UZS 15.7 trillion ($1.27 bn) were held by state-owned banks, while UZS 7.7 trillion ($622.6 mln) were with private banks.

Among state banks, National Bank of Uzbekistan reported the highest NPL volume — over UZS 3.2 trillion ($258.6 mln). Agrobank and Uzpromstroybank followed with UZS 2.9 trillion...

Uzbekistan’s Senate has approved the abolition of double customs duties on certain imported goods, according to the upper house’s press service.

The new rule will exempt goods without a certificate of origin from double tariffs. This aims to simplify imports and reduce costs for entrepreneurs.

In addition, the deadline for paying customs duties has been shortened from five to three working days.

The decision is part of Uzbekistan’s effort to harmonise national legislation with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

«Currently, 32.3% of Uzbekistan’s imports come from countries with free trade agreements, 61.4% from countries with...

The number of business class airline bookings in Uzbekistan for June 2025 rose by 36% compared to the same period last year, according to Aviasales. The average ticket price in this category increased by 9%, reaching 11.7 mln UZS.

Interest in business class is growing for both short- and long-haul routes. Uzbeks are most likely to choose premium seating on flights to major cities and international hubs — including Istanbul, Dubai, Moscow and New York.

Rising demand has driven prices up. Business class flights to Dubai are 35% more expensive than last year, while fares to Seoul have increased...

Uzbekistan’s regulatory framework for insurance companies needs improvement, according to a new IMF report on the country’s financial sector.

The Fund noted that specific insurance regulations are often lacking, and in many cases, insurers are governed by general joint-stock company (JSC) rules instead.

The IMF suggested that introducing insurance-specific standards — particularly regarding corporate governance and consumer protection — would help strengthen Uzbekistan’s insurance market.

The Fund also recommended aligning the country’s deposit insurance system with the principles of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI).

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the IMF also recommended Uzbekistan resume bank...

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani has won the Democratic primary in the race for New York City mayor, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in a surprising upset. The result marks a dramatic twist in a race many assumed was Cuomo’s to lose.

The 33-year-old politician, a Muslim of Ugandan-Indian descent, secured 43.5% of the vote with 93% of ballots counted, while Cuomo received 36.4%. Although New York uses a ranked-choice voting system, Mamdani declared victory on Tuesday night, calling the moment «historic.»

«Tonight, we made history. I will be your Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York...

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, met with Wendy Kopp, founder of the international education movement Teach For All.

The two discussed the development of education, the advancement of women’s rights in Central Asia, and the potential to share the region’s successful initiatives internationally.

Since 2024, Uzbekistan has been a member of the global Teach For All network through the local initiative Teach For Uzbekistan.

Mirziyoyeva emphasized that Teach For Uzbekistan is a key part of the country’s educational reform efforts, aimed at improving the lives of thousands of children — especially in remote regions.

Kursiv...

The year 2024 was the hottest on record. For the first time, the average global temperature exceeded the pre-industrial level by more than 1.5°C over an entire year. Scientists warn that crossing this threshold poses catastrophic risks. Against this backdrop, many countries have strengthened their climate commitments — but few have backed them with concrete measures.

According to the REN21 Global Status Report 2025, cited by Statista, Uzbekistan is among the countries with the most ambitious net-zero emission targets — aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030. Other countries with similar goals include the Maldives, Liechtenstein, and Dominica. The earliest...

On June 25, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan set the official exchange rate of the U.S. dollar at 12,531.78 UZS, marking a daily increase of 75 UZS.

As of the same date, the dollar is being bought for 12,395–12,490 UZS and sold for 12,495–12,590 UZS.

The Central Bank also set the ruble rate at 159 UZS and the euro at 14,538 UZS.

The ruble is being bought for 90–150 UZS and sold for 159–190 UZS. The euro is being bought for 12,800–14,250 UZS and sold for 14,500–15,500 UZS.

Kursiv Uzbekistan reports that Uzbekinvest and Agrosugurta will be put...

Iran’s parliament has voted in favor of a bill to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reuters reported.

The adopted legislation must now be reviewed by the Guardian Council, a 12-member body.

Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the agency had failed to fulfill its obligations to Tehran under existing cooperation agreements.

Late last week, the United States launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. According to Reuters, the attacks did not cause significant damage to Tehran’s nuclear program.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the UN condemned Israel’s strike on...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that Uzbekistan restart the privatisation of banks, building on previous asset sales, according to the Fund’s latest report on the country’s financial sector.

The IMF advised Tashkent to improve the accuracy of reporting on asset quality prior to sales. It also stressed the importance of strengthening corporate governance and attracting investors with experience in the banking industry.

In addition, IMF experts recommended that state support for priority sectors should be provided through transparent and market-based mechanisms. They proposed a gradual phase-out of direct and concessional bank lending programmes.