News

Uzbekistan’s car manufacturing sector continued its steady growth in the first half of 2025, producing a total of 185,600 passenger vehicles, according to the national statistics agency. This marks a 4.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

Cobalt remained the most-produced model, with 73,100 units assembled from January to June — up 0.2% year on year. In second place was the Damas microvan, with 46,000 vehicles manufactured, representing a strong 18.1% increase over the first half of 2024.

Tracker models also maintained popularity, with 22,800 units produced in six months. The Onix and Kia brands rounded out...

On July 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting where preparations for the upcoming autumn-winter period were addressed. Officials presented measures to expand energy production, inject gas into underground storage and ensure balanced energy supply.

Construction is under way at the Talimarjan thermal power plant on two combined-cycle units with a total capacity of 1,065 MW, and a new 1,573 MW power station is being built in Syrdarya. Together, these facilities are expected to generate 20 bn kWh annually.

Additionally, by the end of this year, several new hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 162 MW will be commissioned in...

The banks of the Naryn River and surrounding major canals in Namangan region are set to be transformed into a large-scale modern tourism zone, according to regional authorities.

This initiative follows President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s directive to expand the tourism sector by developing new destinations rooted in the country’s natural and historical landmarks. In line with this, Namangan regional governor Shavkatjon Abdurazzakov visited the Naryn Hydropower Cascade today to review several ongoing and planned projects.

One such project involves developing a 20-hectare riverside site in Uychi district, where a new tourist park and residential buildings are planned. Along the Naryn...

Ukrainian Ambassador Mykola Doroshenko has announced the conclusion of his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan following a rotation within Ukraine’s diplomatic corps, as approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a farewell message, Doroshenko called his appointment «the highest expression of trust» from his country’s leadership and said he had given his utmost to strengthen ties between Ukraine and Uzbekistan. «With deep motivation and all the energy I could muster, I worked to promote comprehensive cooperation between our two nations,» he said.

Reflecting on the difficult circumstances under which he served, Doroshenko noted that his tenure as...

On July 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the progress of joint projects in the oil and gas sector being carried out with international partners.

As domestic energy demand continues to grow, Uzbekistan is steadily developing its energy sector. A number of promising initiatives have been launched following the president’s foreign visits and the business forums held during them.

One key development is an agreement with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to explore and extract oil in the Ustyurt region. The two sides will also conduct joint geological surveys in other promising areas.

Uzbekistan is working with several other countries as...

Several banks have updated the rates for exchanging foreign currencies for UZS on July 22. This article contains information about the most favorable rates.

Here are Central Bank Reference Rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Several banks offer better buy rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Financial institutions may change the value of...

Oil prices were little changed on Monday as markets balanced concerns over new European Union sanctions on Russian oil with broader demand worries tied to upcoming U.S. tariffs and increased output from Middle East producers, as reported by Reuters.

Brent crude fell by 10 cents to $69.18 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) edged down by 1 cent to $67.33, following small losses in the previous session.

On Friday, the EU approved its 18th sanctions package against Russia, which includes a ban on refined oil products made from Russian crude in third countries—potentially affecting exporters like India’s...

After waiting 30 years, former teacher George Thomson has finally seen the famous cuckoo bird emerge from Edinburgh’s floral clock—a wish he’s held onto since a school trip gone wrong in 1995, tells the BBC.

Back then, George led his P7 class on a 100-mile journey from Aberdeen to see the mechanical cuckoo at Princes Street Gardens, only to discover the clock wasn’t working.

«One of the kids asked why the clock had no hands—and that’s when I realized it was under repair,» George recalled.

Now 90, George’s son took him back to...

At least 19 people have died and 164 others were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara suburb on Monday afternoon, as reported by BBC.

Dramatic footage from the scene shows flames and thick black smoke billowing from the school’s two-storey building, as rescue teams rushed to pull victims from the debris.

According to a statement posted on Facebook by the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the F-7 aircraft experienced a mechanical failure shortly after taking off for a routine training flight around 13:00 local time (07:06 GMT). The pilot, Flight...

The National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP) of the Republic of Uzbekistan has officially granted a crypto asset custody license to TGHAMYON LLC, in accordance with the licensing regulations outlined in Resolution No. 3380 dated August 15, 2022.

TGHAMYON is now authorized to operate as a crypto-depository service provider under Uzbekistan’s legal framework governing the circulation of crypto-assets.

The company is fully owned by Wallet Global Ventures Limited, a holding firm that also controls crypto service providers responsible for the “Wallet in Telegram” product, a popular solution for digital asset transactions within the Telegram messaging platform.

Information about the...

China has broken ground on what is set to become the world’s largest hydropower project, a massive cascade dam system located along the Yarlung Zangbo River on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The development, with a projected price tag exceeding $170 bn, marks the country’s most ambitious hydropower venture since the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, Reuters reports.

According to state media outlet Xinhua, Premier Li Qiang described the undertaking as a «project of the century», pledging that ecological protection would be a central focus during its development.

Designed to Power a Nation, Stirring Global...

Uzbekistan has made significant strides in closing the gender gap in access to financial services, according to the Global Findex 2025 report by the World Bank. The share of women with a financial account, either through a bank or mobile platform, rose sharply from 28% in 2017 to 50% in 2024.

The report surveyed 141 economies during 2024. It highlights Uzbekistan’s growing access to mobile technology and financial services.

In 2024, 56% of the adult population in Uzbekistan had either a bank or mobile account, up from just 34% in 2017. Uzbekistan is among the 75% of adults in...

From September this year, Uzbekistan will begin a full phase-out of AI-80 petrol, a low-octane fuel widely used across the country. The move was confirmed to Kursiv by Momin Ibodov, press-secretary for Uzbekneftegaz under the Senate of Uzbekistan.

According to Ibodov, all enterprises within the company’s system aim to use up their remaining AI-80 stocks by the end of 2025. From 2026 onwards, only high-octane fuels such as AI-92 and AI-95 will be available for sale.

Current Production and Supply

AI-80 petrol is currently produced mainly at refineries in Bukhara and Fergana. The Bukhara facility is operated by Uzbekneftegaz...

Microsoft has issued an urgent security warning following a wave of cyberattacks targeting SharePoint servers used by government bodies and businesses to manage internal document sharing. The attacks have exploited a critical vulnerability in on-premises SharePoint software, prompting the tech company to release immediate security updates, Reuters reports.

The FBI confirmed on Sunday that it is aware of the attacks and is collaborating with federal and private-sector partners, although further details were not disclosed. Microsoft clarified that only self-hosted SharePoint servers are affected — the cloud-based SharePoint Online, part of Microsoft 365, remains secure.

On-Premises Servers at Risk...

Twenty-three snakes listed in Uzbekistan’s Red Book have been returned to their natural habitat in Surkhandarya, Tashkent Zoo reports. They include six Central Asian cobras (Naja oxiana) and 17 eastern boas (Boa constrictor). These protected species had been illegally captured and kept by private individuals.

During enforcement raids, inspectors from the Ministry of Ecology confiscated the snakes. They were temporarily housed at Tashkent Zoo, where they received care, veterinary checks and preparation for life in the wild.

Following expert approval from the Institute of Zoology, all 23 snakes were released into the natural zones of Kampyrtepa, Sherjon and Sholkon...

Former head coach of Uzbekistan’s national football team, Srečko Katanec, has called on fans not to expect major achievements from the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Championat Asia reports.

Katanec encouraged Uzbek supporters to focus on enjoying the experience.

«I have one piece of advice for all Uzbek fans: don’t expect anything from the team. Just enjoy your first World Cup. Achieving great results in your first match is never easy. Enjoy the process,» he said.

The coach added that the outcome of the tournament for Uzbekistan would largely depend on their...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology has reviewed the proposal from entrepreneur Murad Nazarov, presented during an open dialogue hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The proposal suggested replacing the nationwide moratorium on tree-felling with compensatory planting and the creation of a «tree bank». In response, the ministry issued a statement stressing several key points.

Uzbekistan, lacking access to seas and oceans — vital natural sources of oxygen and carbon dioxide absorption — is over 60% desert and semi-desert. This makes the country particularly vulnerable to climate change.

It is important to consider the impact of regional climate...

The number of Russian tourists visiting Uzbekistan continues to grow. Russia now ranks fourth among countries sending travellers to the country.

Strong growth in first five months

From January to May 2024, Uzbekistan welcomed 4.2 mln international tourists. That’s 1.4 million more than in the same period last year. The increase equals 48.2% year-on-year.

Top visitors came from Kyrgyzstan (1.2 mln), Tajikistan (993,000), and Kazakhstan (899,000). Russia followed with over 344,000 visitors in five months.

By the end of 2024, more than 870,000 Russians visited Uzbekistan. That’s up from 714,000 in 2023.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Azerbaijan to takes legal action against Russia over AZAL plane...

Several banks have updated the rates for exchanging foreign currencies for UZS on July 21. This article contains information about the most favorable rates.

Here are Central Bank Reference Rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Several banks offer better buy rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Financial institutions may change the value of currencies...

At the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the strategic significance of the Zangezur Corridor, estimating it could handle 15 mln tonnes of cargo in its initial phase.

Speaking with Sherzod Kudratkhoja, rector of the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan, Aliyev described the corridor as a new axis of the North–South transport route, with implications for the broader Turkic world.

A new gateway to Europe for Central Asia

The corridor opens a shorter and more efficient trade route from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and parts of Kazakhstan to European markets and ports on the Eastern Mediterranean.

Once operational, it will offer...

Kazakhstan has begun building a 500-metre railway bridge over the Syr Darya River. The structure is part of the new Darbaza–Maktaaral railway line, stretching 152 km. The project was launched on the orders of the President and carries strategic importance for both the country and the region.

Alternative to Saryagash–Tashkent route

The new railway will reduce pressure on the overloaded Saryagash–Tashkent corridor. It will provide a direct connection between Maktaaral and Zhetysai districts and the national rail network — without passing through Uzbekistan. This will increase export capacity and speed up logistics across southern Kazakhstan.

Half of...

Azerbaijan plans to file international lawsuits against Russia over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft in Kazakhstan’s Aktau in December 2024. President Ilham Aliyev announced the decision during a public address, citing the lack of cooperation from Moscow.

Legal pressure builds over unresolved investigation

Aliyev said that the incident is «as clear as day» and criticised Russia’s refusal to provide meaningful answers for over seven months. According to him, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan sent multiple official requests to the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee. The only response has been that the «investigation is ongoing.»

Uzbekistan has officially joined the International Home of Journalists (IHJ), a global media organisation that promotes international cooperation and press development.

Global media forum in China

The announcement was made during the international media forum «Power of the Press: Dialogue Between Civilisations and the Role of Journalists in Global Modernisation.»

The event took place in Jiangxi Province, China, and brought together media representatives from over 60 countries, including the US, Germany, France, Russia and Belarus.

Uzbekistan was admitted as a member during the forum. The Journalists Union of Uzbekistan will serve as the country’s official representative within the IHJ.

Strengthening media ties

Membership in...

Germany has no plans to recognise the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed during a press briefing on recent deportations of Afghan nationals.

Diplomatic recognition «not under consideration»

Chancellor Merz stated clearly that diplomatic recognition of the Taliban is off the table.

«I reiterate: diplomatic recognition of the Taliban is not on the agenda at all and is not being considered,» said Merz.

He explained that the German government’s communication with the interim Afghan authorities is limited to technical coordination. These contacts have taken place, but Merz avoided sharing specifics, citing confidentiality.