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Uzbekistan is exploring new avenues for infrastructure cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), signalling continued deepening of bilateral development ties.

The prospects were discussed during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Sota Tosaka, head of JICA’s Office for Afghanistan, according to the Uzbek ministry.

Talks focused on expanding investment cooperation, strengthening institutional coordination and creating favourable conditions for Japanese development initiatives in the region. Uzbek officials reaffirmed their readiness to support JICA-led projects and maintain close dialogue.

Both sides also highlighted the importance of sustainable development and private sector growth, identifying...

Azerbaijan will present its vision for the development of its national space industry at a special briefing during the STC 2026 Space Technology Conference in Tashkent, scheduled for April 1.

The presentation will be delivered by Dunay Bedirkhanov, acting chairman of Azercosmos, the country’s state space agency operating under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. The conference itself will run from March 30 to April 1, bringing together regional and international stakeholders in the space and technology sectors.

Organisers say the briefing will highlight Azerbaijan’s strategic priorities in space development, including satellite capabilities, international partnerships and industry...

Uzbekistan’s ambitious Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy is positioning the country on a long-term path toward economic growth, social reform and regional leadership, according to a new analysis by Central Asia researcher Abdulhameed Hameed Al-Kba.

Adopted in September 2023 under a presidential decree, the strategy serves as Uzbekistan’s primary development roadmap through the end of the decade. It sets out 100 goals across five priority areas, including improving living standards, accelerating economic growth, advancing green transition policies, strengthening governance and expanding international partnerships.

The programme builds on earlier reforms and aims to transform Uzbekistan into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. Key...

Iran is facing growing international alarm after reports of sweeping arrests following a deadly crackdown on protests that allegedly left thousands dead. Security forces are said to have detained tens of thousands of people across the country, targeting a wide cross-section of society.

Human rights groups claim the arrests have affected students, doctors, lawyers, teachers and activists, though the reported figure of more than 50,000 detainees remains unverified. Families say many detainees are being held incommunicado, with little information about their location or legal status.

Medical professionals and legal advocates have been among those reportedly targeted. Rights organisations...

Uzbekistan’s alpine skier Medet Nazarov placed 50th in the men’s giant slalom at the Winter Olympics in Italy. He clocked 1:21.14 in the second run.

Nazarov had been 54th after the opening run with a time of 1:25.75 but improved his position following the final descent.

Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen secured the gold medal, marking a landmark achievement for his country. Switzerland claimed the remaining podium spots, with Marco Odermatt taking silver and Loic Meillard earning bronze.

Later on February 15, Uzbekistan will also be represented in speed skating by Daniil Eybog, who has received an additional Olympic qualification...

India has reported the first fatality in its latest Nipah virus outbreak after a 25-year-old nurse in West Bengal died from complications linked to the infection. Health officials said the patient suffered a secondary lung infection and cardiac arrest while receiving intensive care.

The case is one of two confirmed infections in the state, with the second patient having recovered and been discharged. Authorities say the death marks the first confirmed fatality in the current outbreak, prompting renewed health vigilance.

Officials conducted extensive contact tracing involving around 200 people linked to the cluster. All contacts tested negative, and...

A newly leaked 1997 edition of Jeffrey Epstein’s so-called «Little Black Book» has triggered a social media firestorm after unredacted names, addresses and phone numbers of hundreds of high-profile figures surfaced online. The document offers a rare look into Epstein’s network during the late 1990s, years before his crimes became widely known.

Unlike the more familiar mid-2000s version, the 1997 book reportedly contains 349 entries, with more than 200 names not seen in later editions. Researchers say the document resurfaced in 2020 after earlier being discovered and stored privately, making it one of the earliest snapshots of Epstein’s...

Discord is facing mounting criticism after confirming it will introduce global age verification checks from March, requiring some users to prove their age via government IDs, facial scans, or automated estimation tools. The move has triggered a wave of backlash from users and privacy advocates, who warn the policy could erode trust in the platform.

The company says the rollout will apply only to certain users and will restrict access to some content and communities if age cannot be verified. However, many users have criticised the measures as intrusive, particularly the potential use of facial recognition and biometric...

In January 2026, Uzbekistan sold 28,600 new vehicles, a 7.2% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR). Sales were strongest in Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Fergana regions, while demand fell in Samarkand, Khorezm and Tashkent.

The growth was largely powered by domestically produced vehicles, which accounted for over 24,000 units. Sales of imported cars dropped 10% year-on-year to 4,400 vehicles.

Electric car sales rose 9% to reach 6,100 units in January, with the capital recording 3,700 of these purchases. Strong interest also came from Samarkand, Namangan and Surkhandarya regions.

Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen moved to the brink of a historic Winter Olympic gold medal after dominating the first run of the men’s giant slalom on Saturday at the Milano Cortina Games.

No athlete representing a South American nation has ever won a Winter Olympic medal, but the Norway-born 25-year-old put himself in prime position to change that. Starting first among 81 competitors, Braathen delivered a clean and fluid run through 52 gates on the softened Stelvio course, stopping the clock at 1:13.92.

He finished 0.95 seconds clear of Switzerland’s reigning Olympic champion Marco Odermatt, who was the only...

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Croatian coach Igor Tudor on a short-term contract until June 2026, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. The deal comes with no option for extension, as the club evaluates long-term candidates including Roberto De Zerbi and former manager Mauricio Pochettino. Tudor replaces Thomas Frank, whose contract was terminated in mid-February.

Tudor began his playing career at Hajduk Split in the mid-1990s and later appeared for Juventus and Siena, making 220 appearances in total. He began coaching at Hajduk in 2009 and has since managed teams in Italy and Turkey, including Galatasaray, Juventus and Lazio.

Currently, Tottenham...

Big-budget action-comedy Jason Statham Stole My Bike has premiered at the European Film Market in Berlin, targeting global buyers, Deadline reports. Statham reunites with director David Leitch, following their hit Hobbs & Shaw. Filming is set for May 2026.

The plot is under wraps, but Statham will play a meta version of himself. The $80 mln production includes major action set pieces and a PG-13 rating. The script is by Alison Flierl (BoJack Horseman, School Of Rock).

Black Bear will handle international sales and a wide domestic release. Financing came via CAA Media Finance, with Amazon reportedly eyeing multiple...

Uzbekistan plans to increase venture capital investment to $2 bn and expand the number of startups to 5,000 by 2030 under a presidential decree issued by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The strategy also aims to commercialise 2,000 youth startup ideas and bring around 400 of them to international markets.

Winners of innovation contests and hackathons will be eligible for loans of up to $20,000 from state-backed venture funds.

Entrepreneurs may also apply for grants of up to $10,000 under the Digital Startups programme.

From 2027, research and development centres will open across the country to support early-stage companies. These...

Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov delivered one of the biggest surprises in Olympic figure skating history, capturing gold at the Milano Cortina Games after overwhelming favourite Ilia Malinin crumbled in the free skate.

Malinin, widely tipped to dominate the men’s event, saw his programme unravel in dramatic fashion and finished outside the medals despite leading after the short programme.

Favourite’s free skate falls apart

The American had planned an ambitious layout featuring seven quadruple jumps, including the quad Axel, a jump only he has landed in competition. But from the outset his routine went awry.

An intended quad Axel became...

Uzbekistan added 962 new accommodation facilities in 2025, including 136 hotels, 528 family guest houses and 298 hostels, officials said at the Hotel Business Forum 2026 in Tashkent.

As of January 1, 2026, the country had 6,900 accommodation facilities with a combined capacity of 185,600 beds.

The national hotel market now includes several major international chains such as InterContinental Hotels Group, Accor, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotel Group, Hilton and Hyatt.

Uzbekistan welcomed 11.6 mln foreign visitors in 2025.

Under the domestic tourism initiative Travel Around Uzbekistan, residents made 23.7 mln trips across the country’s regions during the year...

The production team behind the popular comedy programme What Happened Next? (Что было дальше?) may relocate filming to Kazakhstan, according to the Telegram channel Mash.

The reported move follows a decision to bar comedian Nurlan Saburov from entering Russia for 50 years. Relocating production would allow the creators to invite international guests without restrictions and formally register the show’s trademark.

In Russia, the project’s producers, Maxim and Daria Morozov, were unable to secure legal rights to the brand through the courts.

The show remains commercially successful. Each regular episode generates around 35 mln roubles ($452,200) in advertising revenue...

Uzbekistan will establish a digital platform titled «Unified National Project Management», officials said following a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The system is designed to track each project for three years after its launch to ensure it remains operational, generates high added value and successfully enters export markets.

Mirziyoyev said that in previous years attracting investment and launching a project were often considered sufficient indicators of success. In practice, however, a number of major initiatives stalled after their formal start.

Last year alone, 55 projects were not completed on time due to problems with feasibility studies, equipment...

Uzbekistan plans to increase the volume of construction work to 400 trln soums ($32.7 bn) this year, targeting sector growth of at least 17%, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev told officials.

The president tasked relevant ministries and agencies with accelerating activity across the industry, highlighting the role of state-funded infrastructure projects in driving demand.

Around 40 trln soums ($3.3 bn) allocated from the state budget for social and industrial infrastructure is expected to generate substantial orders for construction firms, as well as companies in metallurgy, electrical engineering and building materials production.

Mirziyoyev stressed the need for tighter oversight of regional...

Seven medal events lit up Day 7 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering record-breaking performances, historic milestones and stunning upsets across multiple sports.

From cross-country dominance by Johannes Hosflot Klæbo to a shock figure skating upset, Friday’s action showcased both expected champions and dramatic twists.

Klæbo Moves Closer to Olympic Immortality

Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klæbo strengthened his claim as one of the greatest cross-country skiers of all time, winning the men’s 10km free for his eighth Olympic gold.

The 29-year-old matched the Winter Games record for gold medals, joining Norwegian legends Bjorn Dæhlie, Marit Bjorgen

South Korea endured a medal-less day at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, narrowly missing the podium in both figure skating and snowboarding on Friday.

Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan came closest to securing a medal, finishing fourth in the men’s singles with 273.92 points. He fell just 0.98 points short of bronze after an early mistake on a quadruple toe loop in the free skate, though he recovered with an otherwise clean performance.

In snowboarding, Lee Chaeun placed sixth in the men’s halfpipe at Livigno Snow Park. After struggling in his first two runs, Lee landed all five tricks in his...

Indian cricket fans are flocking to Colombo despite soaring travel and accommodation costs as anticipation builds for Sunday’s blockbuster T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan.

Flights and hotels in Sri Lanka have surged in price following Pakistan’s late confirmation for the match, with some round-trip fares from India rising several times above usual levels. Yet thousands of supporters are still making the trip to witness one of sport’s most intense rivalries.

Travel demand spiked after uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation was resolved just days before the fixture. Even fans who booked early reported paying steep premiums due to high...

Team GB secured its first medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics as Matt Weston stormed to gold in the men’s skeleton with a dominant performance in Cortina.

The double world champion delivered a near-flawless display at the Cortina Sliding Centre, setting four consecutive track records across the four-run competition to finish well clear of the field.

Weston led from the opening day, establishing early control with record times in both initial heats. He carried a 0.3-second advantage into the final day and extended it further with another blistering run that left his rivals chasing.

Heading into the final...

The men’s figure skating final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Games. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov stunned the field by capturing gold, capitalizing on a dramatic collapse from several top contenders — including heavy favourite Ilia Malinin.

Underdog Triumphs on Olympic Stage

Shaidorov, the 2025 world silver medallist, entered the free skate in fifth place but produced the performance of his life when it mattered most. His emotionally charged program earned a personal best and vaulted him to the top of the podium.

After the medal ceremony, Shaidorov said he focused...

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have reviewed the results of their bilateral cooperation in 2025 and identified key priorities for 2026 during diplomatic talks in Tashkent.

The discussions took place between Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bobur Usmanov and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination between their foreign ministries and agreed to develop new practical initiatives to strengthen their strategic partnership and allied relations.

Officials also highlighted the rapid growth in trade ties. Bilateral trade turnover between the two countries reached $268.9 mln from January...