News

Alipay+, the global wallet gateway of Ant International, has announced a partnership with HUMO, Uzbekistan’s national payment system, to enable cross-border QR payments between Uzbekistan and more than 50 countries. The partnership was formalised in Beijing.

The Octomobile app by Octobank will be the first Uzbek e-wallet integrated with Alipay+, with more HUMO-linked wallets and bank apps expected to join by the end of 2025. HUMO becomes the tenth national QR network to partner with Alipay+.

Global Connectivity for Uzbek Travellers

In the first stage, HUMO users will be able to make payments in Uzbek sums while travelling...

The National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s average monthly nominal wage reached 6.17 mln soums ($512) in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 19.2% increase compared with the same period last year.

Regional Breakdown

The highest average wages were recorded in Tashkent, where employees earned 10.38 mln soums ($861) per month. Navoi region followed with 7.61 mln soums ($631), while the lowest averages were observed in Kashkadarya (4.27 mln soums/$354) and Surkhandarya (4.35 mln soums/$361).

Wages also rose notably in Samarkand, where they increased by 24.8%, the fastest growth among all regions.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on adopting advanced global practices and technologies in Uzbekistan’s geology sector.

Officials outlined plans to modernise the national geological system, expand the mineral resource base, and increase the processing of raw materials. The project includes the creation of a new competence centre in partnership with leading international institutions, including the Colorado School of Mines in the United States.

The centre will focus on introducing digital solutions, artificial intelligence, and modern geophysical methods to accelerate the discovery of new deposits. It will also integrate geochemical and space research data to enhance exploration efficiency.

Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva held a meeting with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who are visiting Uzbekistan on an official trip.

The talks focused on strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries, as well as expanding cooperation in public security. The US officials praised the speed and scale of reforms carried out in Uzbekistan over the past eight years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership.

According to the US Embassy, the meeting also included a «productive exchange of views on...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a United States delegation headed by Sergio Gor, Special Envoy of President Donald Trump for South and Central Asia. The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other senior officials.

During the talks, both sides discussed the strengthening of the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the United States and reviewed the implementation of agreements reached during their meeting in New York on September 23.

The discussions focused on expanding business cooperation, boosting trade, and preparing for the visit of a delegation from the US Chamber of...

Russia’s second-largest oil company, Lukoil, announced on October 27 that it will sell its international assets in response to new US sanctions linked to the conflict in Ukraine.

The company said the divestment will proceed under a wind-down licence granted by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

«The sale of the assets is conducted under OFAC wind down license. If necessary the company plans to apply for extension of the license to ensure uninterrupted operations of its international assets,» Lukoil said in a statement, adding that it has begun reviewing offers from potential...

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is preparing a joint financing package worth around $1.45 bn to support renewable energy development in Uzbekistan, Nikkei reports. The initiative is part of Tokyo’s broader effort to strengthen its economic and strategic presence in Central Asia.

The funds will be directed toward the construction of two integrated complexes combining solar power generation and energy storage systems near Samarkand. With a combined capacity of 1,000 MW, the facilities are set to become among the largest renewable energy projects in Uzbekistan.

International Consortium to Lead the Project

The project is led by...

South Korean authorities have arrested a 29-year-old Uzbek national accused of diverting charity donations to Hamas and Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (KTJ), an al-Qaida-linked militant group, officials said Monday.

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, working with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the FBI, detained the suspect, identified only as «A,» who allegedly posed as a charity worker for an «Africa well project» while raising funds through eight social media accounts.

Investigators found that «A» collected about 952 mln won ($626 K) in cryptocurrency and transferred portions to wallets linked to KTJ and Hamas. He also promoted extremist ideology...

Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is expanding its economic and energy partnership with the United States following high-level talks in Tashkent between Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and a U.S. delegation led by Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Trend reports.

The meeting focused on advancing agreements reached during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s September visit to Washington, particularly in investment, infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and information technology.

Minister Kudratov stressed the need for practical implementation of these deals, noting a growing interest...

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan unveiled joint tourism offerings at the «Highlights of the Silk Road» European roadshow in Prague, the first event co-hosted by the Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) and Uzbekistan’s National PR Centre to position both countries as leading Silk Road destinations.

The showcase, part of a six-city swing engaging Central & Eastern European stakeholders and linked marketing in Barcelona, spotlighted UNESCO-listed heritage, cultural circuits, and nature-led itineraries. Azerbaijan promoted Baku’s old-and-new city appeal alongside mountain getaways in Guba and Gabala, while Uzbekistan highlighted the historic cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.

Presentations also pitched high-growth niches: ecotourism, culinary travel...

Oil and gas services firm Petrofac has announced plans to appoint administrators after the collapse of restructuring talks, threatening more than 7K jobs worldwide, including around 2K positions in Scotland.

The company told investors on Monday that it has applied to the High Court for administration following the termination of a major contract by Dutch electricity grid operator TenneT, which effectively ended efforts to stabilize its finances.

Petrofac said the move affects its main holding company, while trading operations will continue as the firm explores alternative restructuring or merger options with creditors. Corporate finance firm Teneo is expected to...

A new slang trend known as «67» is sweeping U.S. classrooms, and driving teachers to the brink. The phrase, a call-and-response where one person says «six» and others yell «seven,» has become so disruptive that schools nationwide are banning it.

The trend stems from rapper Skrilla’s song «Doot Doot (6 7)», which went viral on social media alongside memes featuring NBA star LaMelo Ball, according to Merriam-Webster. The joke has evolved into an in-class chant often paired with a «juggling» hand gesture.

Frustrated educators have resorted to creative punishments. Michigan teacher Adria Laplander now makes offenders write 67-word essays

On October 26, Uzbekistan’s National Canine Centre under the State Customs Committee hosted one of the country’s largest dog festivals. The event featured the international Dog Festival 2025 and the national dog exhibition Anor 2025, drawing dog lovers, breeders, and handlers from across Uzbekistan and beyond.

The programme included the Speciality Hunting Breeds competition, a German Shepherd championship titled Club Cup: Autumn 2025, and impressive demonstrations by customs handlers and their service dogs. Across five show rings, professional handlers presented the best examples of 40 breeds to experts and spectators.

Exotic Breeds Steal the Show

The highlight of...

Former Crystal Palace investor John Textor has lodged a £400 mln offer to buy Wolverhampton Wanderers, as pressure grows on current owners Fosun after the club’s winless start left them bottom of the Premier League.

The proposal is understood to comprise around £150 mln in cash and £262.6 mln in shares. Club sources maintain Wolves are not for sale, saying they are exploring outside investment instead.

Sunday’s injury-time defeat to Burnley sparked loud protests at Molineux, with chants aimed at both Fosun and head coach Vítor Pereira. Wolves are the only side across England’s top six divisions yet to...

The first Airbus A321XLR for Uzbek private airline Qanot Sharq has been seen leaving the paint shop at Airbus’s Finkenwerder facility near Hamburg, Germany, ahead of its planned delivery later this year.

Photos shared on social media show the jet in Qanot Sharq’s blue and white livery, complete with a logo promoting Uzbekistan. The aircraft, still bearing a temporary Airbus registration (D-AYAB), is expected to enter service before the end of 2025, marking the first A321XLR to be operated in Central Asia.

It is also the first of three A321XLRs leased by Qanot Sharq from Air Lease Corporation in...

FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have announced the creation of a new regional football tournament, the FIFA ASEAN Cup, as part of a broader partnership to strengthen football development across Southeast Asia.

The agreement was signed during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, in the presence of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Modelled after FIFA’s Arab Cup, the new competition will feature national teams from all ASEAN member states.

«This will be a great addition to the regional...

A lion from Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve has become an online sensation after a wildlife photographer captured his perfectly curly mane in breathtaking close-up shots.

The lion, named Nzuri — meaning «beautiful» or «good» in Swahili — has attracted global attention for his rare, wavy coat that looks more like a professional blowout than something shaped by the African savannah.

According to photographers, Nzuri’s tight curls are likely the result of a mix of genetics, humidity, and the way a rain-soaked mane dries naturally in the wind. The striking texture is unlike anything typically seen in the wild, making the...

Prince Andrew is being pressed to vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, with sources saying he has signalled willingness to leave if both he and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, are allocated new residences on the Windsor estate.

Andrew has reportedly asked for Frogmore Cottage, while Sarah Ferguson is said to prefer Adelaide Cottage, currently occupied by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who are expected to relocate to nearby Forest Lodge next month. A friend of the couple cautioned that palace reaction to the proposal remains uncertain.

Pressure on the Duke intensified after revelations...

Montenegro will temporarily suspend its visa-free regime for Turkish citizens following a violent incident in Podgorica that has fuelled public unrest, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced on Sunday evening.

«Tomorrow, through an urgent procedure, we will decide on the temporary suspension of visa-free entry for Turkish citizens,» Spajić wrote on social network X. He added that the government would soon begin intensive discussions with Turkey to «find the best model in our mutual interest, in the spirit of good cooperation and alliance,» stressing the need to protect both economic activity and bilateral relations.

An effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen hanging from a construction crane in the Turkish city of Trabzon has triggered strong condemnation from Israel.

Images published by the pro-government daily Yeni Safak showed a dummy resembling Netanyahu suspended from a crane, with a banner reading «Death penalty for Netanyahu.» The identity of those responsible remains unclear.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said on X that a Turkish academic was behind the stunt, allegedly «aided by a state company,» and criticized Ankara for not denouncing the act.

«In Erdogan’s Turkey, hatred and antisemitism aren’t condemned...

The Supreme Court on October 27 ordered the chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear before it on November 3 for not submitting compliance affidavits in the ongoing stray dogs case.

A special three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria noted that only the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with the governments of West Bengal and Telangana, had followed its earlier instructions. The bench criticised the remaining states and UTs for ignoring the court’s August 22 directive, which had clearly detailed the required steps to manage...

Uzbekistan’s pharmaceutical market is undergoing a structural transformation, with dietary supplements rapidly gaining ground. According to a new report by DATFO Analytics, biologically active additives (BAAs) made up 9.5% of total pharmacy turnover as of September 2025.

Compared with 2024, sales of supplements rose 1.7 times in value and 1.4 times in volume, even as other pharmaceutical segments remained stagnant.

Growing Consumer Confidence

The surge has been driven mainly by imported supplements from the United States. Analysts note that the key factor behind their popularity is consumer trust and word-of-mouth recommendations, rather than aggressive advertising.

Responding to the growing...

Ferrari is venturing deeper into digital finance with plans to introduce a new crypto token that will give its wealthiest fans the chance to bid for a Ferrari 499P, the endurance car that secured three consecutive Le Mans victories.

The initiative, though limited in scope, reflects Ferrari’s strategy to engage younger, tech-savvy investors and entrepreneurs who have benefited from the global surge in artificial intelligence and data-driven markets. It also builds on the company’s growing openness to digital payments, after it began accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDC for vehicle purchases in the United States in 2023, later extending the option...

After a tense and dramatic week inside La Granja VIP, the reality show saw its second elimination as Sandra Itzel was voted out of the competition. Her departure, announced on October 26, sparked mixed reactions among viewers and marked a turning point in the show’s evolving dynamics.

The elimination night pitted comedian Alfredo Adame, singer Sandra Itzel, and actor Eleazar Gómez against each other after a week of heated nominations and growing pressure among contestants. Physical challenges and farm duties added to the tension, testing both endurance and teamwork.

Adame was the first to be saved, leaving Sandra and...