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Afghanistan could receive up to 3 mln returning migrants this year, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The figure far exceeds initial projections and risks deepening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

UNHCR Raises Concerns Over Return Scale

Arafat Jamal, head of the UNHCR office in Afghanistan, said the country faces growing pressure from a «massive, unorganised and humiliating» return of citizens, mostly from Iran and Pakistan.

Over 1.6 mln Afghans have already returned in 2025. The majority have come from Iran. The initial forecast for the year was 1.4 mln.

Border Crossings Surge Daily

More than 30,000 people now cross the Islam Qala checkpoint at...

A new state named New Caledonia is set to emerge, following a landmark agreement reached in a suburb of Paris. According to Politico, the territory will retain certain dependencies on France.

Representatives from opposing sides — both pro-independence and pro-unity — reached a compromise. The agreement grants New Caledonia autonomous status and several new rights.

Under the terms, the archipelago will introduce its own citizenship and take on some responsibilities in foreign policy. Before the deal takes effect, it must be approved by the French Parliament and endorsed in a referendum by New Caledonia’s population.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the...

Kyrgyzstan is currently working with Turkey on three major energy projects involving the construction of power plants and an oil refinery, according to the country’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Nazgul Usenova.

Speaking at the “Central Asia School” conference, organised by Russia’s Gorchakov Foundation, Usenova outlined the scope of the projects.

«At present, we are jointly implementing three large-scale projects with Turkey. The first is the construction of a second thermal power station in Bishkek. The second is the Kazarman hydropower cascade. Research has been completed on that, and we expect to make a final decision...

Kazakhstan has become the first nation in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States to sign a civil aviation master plan with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), laying out a roadmap for industry development through to 2050.

The agreement was formalised during a visit by ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano, who met with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport to sign the document.

Under the plan, ICAO will work with Kazakhstan to enhance its aviation sector between 2026 and 2050. The Ministry noted that the country has already made considerable progress in aligning with ICAO regulations. Over the past...

Japanese Johkasou wastewater treatment systems have been installed at social institutions in Karakalpakstan, according to Akiko Fujii, the UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.

The systems make it possible to reuse treated wastewater for irrigating gardens and small-scale agriculture. One of the installations was set up at a rehabilitation centre in Nukus district. The centre now grows fruits and vegetables on site to feed its patients.

Water reuse improves health and nutrition

Johkasou systems were also introduced at a kindergarten and a specialised school in Khodjeyli. The installations improved sanitation and helped save water for garden irrigation. In addition...

In the first half of 2025, residents of Uzbekistan received mortgage loans totalling 9.4 trln soums, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Of this amount, 6.3 trln soums were allocated by banks using state budget funds, while the remainder came from the financial institutions’ own resources.

In total, more than 31,500 people in the country took out mortgages during this period.

Citizens received 6,900 flats in the New Uzbekistan districts.

A total of 624 bn soums were allocated for infrastructure development in these areas. The funds are being used for the construction of roads, gas, electricity and...

On July 11, a Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Eritrea was signed, according to a statement by Eritrea’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

The document was signed on behalf of the governments of the two countries by Ulugbek Lapasov, Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, and Sophia Tesfamariam Yohannes, Eritrea’s Permanent Representative.

The Eritrean mission noted that this event marks a new stage in bilateral relations, founded on mutual respect and the principles of the UN Charter. Eritrea has become the 161st country with which Uzbekistan has established official interstate...

Foreign currencies rate against UZS slightly declined on July 11.

Central Bank Reference Rates several banks now offer notably higher buy rates—beneficial for travellers seeking to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Several banks now offer notably higher buy rates—beneficial for travellers seeking to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Saturday’s update presents a favourable environment for foreign exchange: modest strengthening of the...

On July 11, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, held a meeting with the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Uzbekistan, Abdul Ghaffar Terawi.

The two sides discussed current issues on the bilateral and regional agenda, with Uzbekistan reaffirming its commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s sustainable development.

Particular attention was given to the importance of integrating Afghanistan into regional and global supply chains. Strengthening economic cooperation, enhancing connectivity and developing dynamic partnerships were noted as key factors in ensuring lasting stability and prosperity across the broader region.

Kursiv also reports that Kazakhstan is strengthening its...

Based on open-source data, the BBC alongside Mediazona and a volunteer team has identified the names of 118,139 Russian military personnel killed during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. More than 500 of the deceased were foreign citizens from 28 countries—including Central Asian states.

These figures include only those foreign nationals who had no Russian citizenship when they signed up, and whose deaths could be confirmed via sources such as official announcements, relatives’ posts on social media or gravestone photos. The actual number of foreign recruits killed is expected to be much higher.

When compiling the list, no data was...

The original Hermès Birkin bag, once owned by Jane Birkin herself, sold for a record-breaking $10 mln at a Sotheby’s Paris auction, making it the most expensive handbag ever sold.

This was no ordinary accessory—it was the first Birkin prototype, custom-made for the British actress in 1984 after a chance meeting with Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. Birkin famously sketched the design on an air sickness bag, leading to the birth of the now-iconic luxury handbag.

The worn black leather bag features her initials, a pair of silver nail clippers, and faded humanitarian stickers, giving it unmatched historical and personal...

Threads user @baibolov_a01 posted a photo of the menu from the Uzbek restaurant Uzbek Corner in London and expressed outrage over the price of plov.

«Uzbeks in London, have you lost your minds? Plov for £12 [206,000 Uzbek soms]? When I see Asian cuisine, I expect reasonable prices — 4 or 5 max. You’re not some hyped-up trendy cuisine abroad to show off with price tags. Get back to reality, please,» he wrote.

Prices for other Uzbek dishes at the venue are not far behind. A bowl of mastava or moshkhurda is priced at...

President Donald Trump arrived in central Texas on Friday to survey the catastrophic aftermath of flash floods that struck over the July 4 holiday, killing at least 120 people and leaving dozens still unaccounted for, as reported by Reuters.

The visit comes amid mounting criticism of the federal response to what has become the deadliest natural disaster of Trump’s second term. Torrential rains unleashed a wall of water down the Guadalupe River last Friday, sweeping through the Texas Hill Country in the early morning hours and catching communities off guard.

«It’s a horrible thing,» Trump...

In a symbolic move marking the start of a potential peace process, 30 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) burned their weapons in northern Iraq on Friday, following a renewed call by the group’s imprisoned leader to disband, as reported by Reuters.

At a ceremony near the mouth of a cave, militants — including both men and women — placed their AK-47 rifles, ammunition belts, and other arms into a large cauldron. The weapons were set ablaze in the presence of Turkish, Iraqi, and Kurdish officials, including representatives from Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM party.

The event marks one of...

Kazakhstan is strengthening its cooperation with Afghanistan following a high-level visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu to Kabul on July 10, as reported by The Astana Times.

Nurtleu met with Afghan officials, including Acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, to discuss expanding collaboration in trade, agriculture, infrastructure and transit.

The two sides signed a memorandum on developing the Central Asia–South Asia railway and agreed to boost bilateral trade to $3 bn. Kazakhstan pledged to increase exports of food, fuel, and industrial goods, while opening new channels for...

Regional authorities are increasingly challenged by the dual threat of heroin smuggling and the rapid spread of synthetic drugs, as explains the report of Special Eurasia consulting and media agency specialising in geopolitical intelligence and risk assessment.

Afghan Trafficking Fuels Regional Networks

Most of the narcotics intercepted originate in Afghanistan, exploiting porous borders and systemic corruption. The so-called «northern route» — which connects Afghanistan to Russia and Europe via Central Asia — continues to be a key artery for heroin and opium transport. However, authorities now warn that the region is no longer just a transit zone: domestic...

Sanat Kalandarov is a farmer and scientist from Khorezm who has devoted his life to melons.
He cultivates dozens of varieties on the saline soils along the banks of the Amu Darya, preserves rare seeds and develops new types that can last until spring. His goal is to make the Khorezm melon a recognisable export and tourism brand for Uzbekistan.

Kursiv Uzbekistan spoke with the farmer and discovered: a melon is more than just a fruit. It is science, tradition, business and a symbol of sunny Uzbekistan.

Khorezm. Early morning in the village of Vazir

A dense, sweet aroma drifts...

Preparations are under way in Uzbekistan for the country’s first large-scale joint census of population and agriculture, EastFruit reports. As part of this initiative, Rasmiya Aliyeva, a statistician from the Regional Office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for Europe and Central Asia, visited the country to provide technical support during the planning and coordination phase.

The census will cover all regions and administrative units of Uzbekistan, aiming to collect reliable and comprehensive data on both demographic trends and key aspects of the agricultural sector. Modern statistical approaches will be used to create a unified and comparable...

Uzbekistan has begun exporting metallic rhenium for the first time, marking a new milestone in the country’s industrial development. The Tashkent Metallurgical Plant (TMK) is now producing the rare and valuable metal, and its first export shipment has been sent to Estonia under a contract with the company VLCor Baltic OU.

Rhenium is a highly sought-after element used in the aerospace and space industries, as well as in the production of heat-resistant alloys capable of withstanding extreme temperatures.

Over the first six months of 2025, TMK achieved export sales totalling $21.3 mln — double the amount recorded during the...

Jennifer Lopez’s upcoming concert in Tashkent is expected to attract around 15,000 local fans, with a total of 25,000 tickets set for sale, according to the Art and Culture Development Foundation, as reported by Kursiv Uzbekistan.

Preliminary figures show that 40% of the tickets have already been purchased by foreign nationals, highlighting the concert’s international appeal.

Sponsors and Business Boost Anticipated

The Foundation also revealed that talks are under way with major Uzbek companies to secure sponsorships for the high-profile event.

“Negotiations are ongoing with the country’s leading firms, allowing them to showcase their brands...

Double Olympic taekwondo champion Ulugbek Rashitov has been banned from competition for two years due to anti-doping violations, according to the International Testing Agency (ITA).

Missed tests lead to sanctions

The ITA states that Rashitov failed to provide his whereabouts on three separate occasions. This breach of protocol blocks out-of-competition testing and is treated as a doping rule violation.

The agency has also nullified all of Rashitov’s results from February 3, 2025 onward. According to Taekwondo Data, he has not taken part in official competitions since the 2024 Olympics.

Rashitov did not contest the ITA’s decision and...

Boho style is making a comeback in 2025. It is all about natural fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and handcrafted details. While oversized fashion remains popular for its comfort and ease, it often lacks softness or a distinctly feminine touch. Boho style combines freedom with lightness, intricate details, and a sense of quiet romance.

In Uzbekistan, the trend feels especially relevant. The long, hot summers make light clothing a necessity, and there is a growing interest in sustainable fashion. The local market now includes both designer and mass-market options.

In this guide, we will cover:

Uzbekistan’s national payment system HUMO has launched a pilot digital token. It is backed by government bonds and aims to boost trade within the CIS.

Registered token backed by secure assets

HUMO Digital issued the token. It is listed in the national registry maintained by the National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP). Crypto depository Asterium will monitor the security of the underlying assets.

The token is secured by Uzbek state bonds. This helps ensure price stability and increases investor confidence.

Pilot phase to test financial use cases

The trial phase will explore how the token works in...

In March 2025, Uzbekistan saw a record-breaking surge in microloan activity, according to figures released by the Central Bank.

During the first quarter of the year, microloan issuance totalled more than 18.7 trln UZS — 2.29 times higher than the same period in 2024. Of that, 5.56 trln UZS were issued in January (a 2.14-fold increase year-on-year), 5.97 trln in February (up 2.25 times), and 7.16 trln in March — a monthly record and 2.46 times higher than the previous year.

Microcredit Share Rises Alongside Stricter Regulation

Microcredit volumes also experienced substantial growth. In Q1 2025, microcredit issuance...