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The starting lineup for Uzbekistan’s national football team has been officially announced ahead of their crucial World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Kyrgyzstan. Defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Manchester City and AS Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov will take the field as part of the starting eleven.

The Football Association of Uzbekistan released the full lineup ahead of the match.

Joining Khusanov and Shomurodov on the pitch will be:

The match against Kyrgyzstan is part of the qualifying campaign for the...

Uzbekistan has taken a significant step by applying to join the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in 2027. This announcement was made during the 68th session of the commission in Vienna, which brought together over 2,000 delegates from 164 countries and more than 20 international organizations.

At the session, the Uzbek delegation introduced its National Strategy on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking for the years 2024-2028, demonstrating the country’s commitment to addressing this critical issue.

Uzbekistan hosted a dedicated event to share its experiences in preventing drug addiction among women, combating drug trafficking originating from Afghanistan, and developing effective rehabilitation...

Boxing is officially included in the list of disciplines of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles. Such a decision was approved during the 144th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The competitions will be held under the auspices of a new organisation – World Boxing, created in 2023.

In 2022, boxing was temporarily excluded from the Olympic 2028 programme. The reason was a lack of confidence in the International Boxing Association (IBA), which in 2019 lost the right to organise Olympic qualifying tournaments and the competitions themselves.

In June 2023, the IOC finally...

In the recent World Cup qualifying match against Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov delivered a solid performance, earning a rating of 7.5 points from the Sofascore portal, making him the sixth highest-rated player on the team.

Khusanov played the entire match, demonstrating his reliability with 58 passes, 50 of which were accurate, along with two successful goal-kicks. His contributions on the field helped stabilize the team’s defense.

Meanwhile, Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov had a mixed game; he missed a penalty but found the net once, though that goal was disallowed for offside, resulting in a rating of...

In a groundbreaking achievement, Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This historic appointment was announced during the 144th IOC Session held in Greece, where Coventry stood out among seven candidates. She will officially assume her role as president on June 23, serving an eight-year term.

Coventry, a native of Zimbabwe, is a renowned former swimmer, celebrated for her impressive collection of two Olympic gold medals and seven world championship titles, alongside numerous world records set during her career. Her contributions extend beyond athletics; she has been actively involved in...

On March 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a festive address in the Yangi Uzbekistan Park, extending warm congratulations to the people of Uzbekistan on the occasion of Nowruz, the ancient celebration of renewal and spring.

“Throughout the three-thousand-year history of our statehood, Nowruz has played an invaluable role in the spiritual life of our people,” the President said. “It is nothing short of a miracle that over the centuries—even in the most challenging and difficult times—our people have carefully preserved the unique values of this noble holiday.”

In his address, the President also praised the...

In today’s world, information is more accessible than ever; online courses, books and lectures are all just a click away. However, knowledge alone is not sufficient for professional growth. The journey to real advancement begins with the support of individuals who can contextualise this knowledge, guide you through real-world applications, help you avoid common pitfalls and assist you in adapting to industry demands.

Alyona Kim, a talented designer at Yandex, is also a dedicated mentor for the Technovation Girls Uzbekistan program. As a speaker and motivator, she plays an important role in guiding newcomers through the tech landscape. Alyona shared...

The construction of the Koshtapa Canal in Afghanistan is expected to be completed by 2028, according to Uzbekistan’s Minister of Water Resources, Shavkat Khamrayev. He stated that Afghanistan has the right to access water from the Amudarya River and emphasized that all related matters should be resolved through diplomatic means.

Focus on Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation

Khamrayev underscored the importance of peaceful negotiations and cooperation rather than conflict.

“Should we take up arms and go to war? No. We are building relationships, engaging in dialogue, and maintaining close ties,” he said.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan launched UNDP Talks, a platform designed to showcase real-life stories of individuals who have transformed their lives through innovative poverty reduction initiatives. Bringing together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and media, the event served as a testament to resilience and sustainable impact.

In line with these efforts, Uzbekistan’s poverty rate has dropped from 17% in 2022 to 8.9% today, aligning with the United Nations’ Goal 1: ending poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Sabine Mahl, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, emphasized the transformative power of these initiatives...

The venture capital market in Central Asia expanded by 7% in 2024, reaching $95 mln, according to a report by RISE Research in collaboration with EA Group, MA7 Ventures, BGlobal Ventures, KPMG, and dealroom.co.

Kazakhstan remains the dominant player, accounting for 74% of total venture investments in the region. In 2024, Kazakh startups attracted $71 mln, with 53% of the funding coming from foreign investors. The average deal size increased, with 40% of transactions falling within the $200,000–$500,000 range.

Uzbekistan’s venture market recorded significant growth, reaching $17.5 mln—2.7 times higher than in 2023—across 38 deals. The average deal size...

France and Uzbekistan continue to expand their strategic partnership, particularly in education. During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Paris from March 11 to 13, 2025, discussions with President Emmanuel Macron led to the signing of a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership and agreements in various sectors, including education. A key focus was on training highly qualified professionals to meet the demands of modern industry and technology.

SIUT Rector, Professor Yusuf Abdullaev, participated in negotiations in Nice with the Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), Yann Liberti. The discussions resulted in an agreement to establish a French...

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission successfully ended on March 18, with astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov returning safely to Earth after months on the ISS. The Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 5:57 p.m. EDT, as reported by NASA News.

Recovery teams quickly assisted, and the crew will reunite with families at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro expressed excitement over their return following a mission that advanced scientific research and technology demonstrations.

The mission timeline was shifted a month ahead...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree to establish a new agency that will oversee the use of nuclear energy, uranium mining, and nuclear safety. The agency’s formation is part of the country’s broader strategy to regulate and manage its nuclear energy sector.

The newly created agency will be led by Almasadam Satkaliyev, who until recently served as the Minister of Energy. His appointment is in line with the government’s aim to strengthen oversight and ensure the safe and effective management of nuclear energy in Kazakhstan.

Following a referendum where citizens expressed support for the construction of a...

Temu, the Chinese e-commerce platform, has officially registered as a legal entity in Uzbekistan. However, the possible blockage of the platform on March 20 remains in effect. According to the National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP), Temu must fulfill additional regulatory requirements, including paying overdue taxes and integrating its systems with the tax authorities to issue fiscal receipts.

Compliance Obligations and Pending Negotiations

Kamronbek Muhammadiev, head of NAPP’s e-commerce department, clarified that Temu’s registration as a legal entity does not absolve the company from complying with other legal obligations.

«The...

Central Asia’s aircraft maintenance industry is currently operating at a significant deficit, with local providers only covering 40% of the region’s maintenance requirements. This gap is highlighted by Dr. Axel Schauenburg of Lufthansa Consulting at the MRO Central Asia 2024 event in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent. According to Schauenburg, the remaining 60% of the demand, which amounts to $73 mln annually, is outsourced to foreign providers.

Growing Market with Increasing Fleet Sizes

Despite the current reliance on foreign providers, the local aircraft maintenance market is on a growth trajectory. Lufthansa Consulting reports that the market is expanding at a steady...

As of March 18, the transfer value of Abdukodir Husanov, a player for the Uzbekistan national team and Manchester City, is €35 mln. This figure is nearly three times higher than it was in December 2024, according to data from Transfermarkt.

Husanov’s value saw an increase despite an incident where he accidentally scored an own goal during a match against Brighton. This has led some Manchester City fans to call for his sale.

At the beginning of his football career, Transfermarkt valued Husanov at just €115,000.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reported that Husanov received a helicopter worth...

Abdukodir Khusanov, the Manchester City defender and member of the Uzbekistan National Team, was recently gifted a Mercedes Benz G-Class by Ulugbek Asanbayev, a former player of the Kazakh club Aktobe. This heartwarming gesture was highlighted in a post on the club’s official Instagram account.

«Asanbayev presented Abdukodir Khusanov with a new Mercedes Benz G-Class,» the message stated.

Following his football career, Ulugbek Asanbayev transitioned into a role as a sports director for Shakhtar and Aktobe, and he has also coached Ordobas. In March, he took on the position of adviser at...

During the talks, the presidents exchanged warm congratulations on the upcoming celebration and wished peace and prosperity to the people of their respective nations.

Key Discussion Highlights:

The Tashkent regional administration has announced plans to construct 29 small and micro hydropower plants (HPPs) across the region, allocating 6.7 hectares of land for the initiative.

According to the regional government, the total installed capacity of the new facilities will exceed 2.5 megawatts (MW). The projects will be implemented across seven districts and three regional-level cities.

Breakdown of planned construction:

Small and micro HPPs will...

The payment operator Paynet has issued shares totalling 547.62 bn soums, according to information published on the Unified Corporate Information Portal.

The National Agency for Prospective Projects of Uzbekistan registered the share issuance on March 14. Each share is valued at 500 soums, and the total issuance involves more than one billion shares.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports tha in January Paynet announced plans to acquire JSC “National Interbank Processing Center (Humo). The deal was valued at $65 mln.

As of March 18, the price of a 5-gram gold bar in Uzbekistan has reached 6.427 mln soums, according to data from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan. The value of the precious metal in the country has been rising for the second consecutive day.

The price of a 10-gram gold bar has increased to 12.8 mln soums, while a 20-gram bar now costs 25.7 mln soums.

Bars weighing 50 and 100 grams have reached 64.2 mln soums and 128.5 mln soums, respectively.

Analysts at UBS investment bank forecast that the price of gold will rise to $3,200 per ounce...

From March 7 to March 14, most highly liquid stocks listed on the Toshkent Republican Stock Exchange (RFSE) displayed varied performance.

The UCI stock index increased by 0.083%. Companies that experienced the highest growth during this period included Dori Darmon (+17.05%), Uzbektelecom (+9.25%), and Uzbekinvest (+4.64%).

Conversely, several companies ended the week with negative results. Notable declines were recorded by the Uzbek Republican Commodity Exchange (UzRTSB) (-11.13%), Ipoteka Bank (-3.48%), Alokabank (-5.13%), and UzAuto Motors (-4.17%).

In terms of transaction volume, the leading three companies were Universal Bank (394 mln soums), UzRTSB (224 mln soums), and Chilonzor Buyum Savdo...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with a US Congressional delegation led by Representative Carol Miller on March 17 to discuss further development of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Expansion of Bilateral Cooperation

During the meeting, Representative Miller conveyed greetings from the US President, congressional leadership, and members of the Uzbekistan Caucus. Both sides acknowledged the strong progress in political engagement and intergovernmental exchanges. Trade turnover and investment volumes have increased significantly in recent years, with business cooperation continuing to grow.

Uzbekistan hosts Webster University and the American University of Technology in Tashkent, contributing to educational...

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has released the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), assessing the impact of terrorism worldwide. The report includes rankings for Central Asian countries based on recorded incidents and overall security conditions.

Central Asia’s Rankings

The latest GTI places three Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan—at 100th place, each with a score of 0, indicating no recorded terrorist impact.

Uzbekistan ranks in the 90s with a score of 0.233, while Tajikistan holds the 70th position with a score of 0.999. According to the index, countries with a score of zero are classified as...