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The United States rejected over 64% of tourist and business visa applications (B1/B2 category) submitted by Uzbek citizens in 2024, according to a new report from the U.S. State Department.

The exact refusal rate was 64.41%, up 4.85 percentage points compared to 2023, when the figure stood at 59.56%. This is one of the highest rates in Central Asia.

For comparison, the refusal rates in other Central Asian countries were:

High refusal rates were also observed in:

In...

Economist Yuliy Yusupov has challenged claims that the Uzbek soum is strengthening, arguing instead that recent trends in the currency market reflect a weakening of the U.S. dollar, not any real gains by the soum.

«There’s no strengthening of the soum. There’s a decline of the dollar,» Yusupov wrote on social media.

He pointed out that since the beginning of the year, the U.S. dollar has dropped by nearly 10% against the euro and 3.3% against the soum. At the same time, the Uzbek soum has lost value against other major currencies:

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay an official visit to Mongolia from 24 to 25 June, according to the presidential press service.

The two countries plan to prioritise trade expansion between Tashkent and Ulaanbaatar, as well as cooperation in industry, agriculture, transport, and other key sectors.

The visit is expected to result in the signing of a package of bilateral agreements.

Previously, both sides expressed their intention to increase mutual trade by five to ten times. Mongolia has also shown interest in developing livestock clusters in Uzbekistan. Future plans include trade facilitation and investment protection mechanisms.

Unknown assailants have attacked a United States military base in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah, Iranian news agency Mehr reported.

The agency did not specify who carried out the strike.

The incident occurred shortly after the United States launched missile and bombing raids on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. A day later, Iran’s Armed Forces Joint Command accused US President Donald Trump of initiating military hostilities, declaring that the US had entered into war with Iran.

Tehran emphasised that it was President Trump who began the conflict, while Iran would be the one to end it.

TASS also reported that...

SNS Partnigs has released an updated ranking of the quality of call centre services provided by commercial banks in Uzbekistan. The results of the May study appeared on the agency’s official Telegram channel.

Analysts contacted the banks, posing as potential clients, and inquired about deposit services. They assessed each bank’s call centre performance based on four parameters: waiting time, operator communication skills, competence, and the duration of the conversation. The scores were calculated using these factors.

The study initially planned to include all 35 commercial banks operating in Uzbekistan. However, researchers were unable to reach five of them, including...

Uzbekistan is launching a $78 mln project to convert waste into fuel, according to the country’s Ministry of Ecology.

The initiative will be developed in partnership with Vision International Investment (Saudi Arabia) and Suez International (France). The agreement was formalized on June 22.

The project will unfold in three stages:

Kursiv Uzbekistan reports that Bell Energy would begin generating electricity from waste in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan has made significant progress in digital governance, according to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In his address to participants of the UN Public Service Forum, he announced that citizens can now access more than 700 public services online through a unified digital platform.

The President highlighted that over the past year, Uzbekistan has climbed 24 places in the global e-government development index. The country also improved its standing in the international Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness index, advancing by 17 positions.

«To develop a modern civil service, we have established a specialised training cluster aimed...

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has acknowledged lingering questions about where Iran may have relocated its uranium shortly before the recent American airstrikes, The New York Times (NYT) reports.

Earlier, several Israeli officials claimed there is intelligence suggesting that Tehran transferred around 400 kilograms of nuclear fuel in anticipation of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

«In the coming weeks, we’ll be working to deal with this fuel, and it’s one of the issues we intend to discuss with the Iranians,» said Vance in an interview with ABC News.

The fate of the...

Spot market prices for uranium have climbed to $75 per pound, marking a weekly increase of over 7% by June 20. Analysts attribute the surge to renewed demand from investment funds, global initiatives to expand nuclear energy, and escalating tensions in the Middle East, Kommersant reports.

Key drivers of uranium’s price increase:

The Iranian Armed Forces have declared that the United States is now engaged in a war with Iran, following US airstrikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.

«You started this war, Trump, but we will be the ones to end it,» the joint command of Iran’s military said in an official statement.

Earlier, the United States used stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles to carry out precision strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

According to the 2025 Global Firepower ranking, the US military remains the most powerful in the...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has expressed concern over the rapid escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The statement appeared on the Ministry’s official Telegram channel.

«Uzbekistan has consistently called on all parties in the region to pursue peace through mutual dialogue,» the Ministry said.

The Ministry also advised Uzbek citizens to refrain from travelling to Israel and Iran. Those currently in these countries should leave if possible.

On Sunday, June 22, the United States launched air and missile strikes on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. The operation...

US President Donald Trump has suggested a possible change of power in Iran, posting the statement on his Truth Social account a day after American air strikes targeted nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic.

«It may not be politically correct to use the term ‘regime change,’ but if the current Iranian regime cannot make Iran great again, why not change the regime??? MIGA (Make Iran Great Again),» Trump wrote.

From 1925 to 1979, Iran was ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty. The monarchy ended in 1979 when Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown...

A humanitarian shipment carrying Sofosbuvir has arrived in Uzbekistan from Sharm El Sheikh Airport, marking the fourth delivery from Egypt since the beginning of the year, according to Dunyo news agency.

Under Uzbekistan’s national programme to eliminate hepatitis C, the medication will be distributed to patients through the Research Institute of Virology at the Ministry of Health. Funds saved by receiving the medicines free of charge will be used to conduct screening programmes aimed at identifying asymptomatic cases of the disease.

Uzbekistan aims to completely eliminate hepatitis C within the next five years. Egypt continues to support this effort...

The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Israel has advised Uzbek citizens to strictly observe safety protocols and remain in shelters during missile attacks. The announcement was published on the diplomatic mission’s official channel.

The embassy warned of new restrictions introduced in Israel. Until 08:00 on 23 June, all areas under limited activity will remain in a restricted mode, permitting movement only when strictly necessary. Kindergartens, schools, universities and most industrial enterprises will remain closed. Commuting to work is prohibited.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) imposed the restrictions following the escalation of conflict with Iran after the United States launched airstrikes...

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American air forces launched what he called a very successful strike on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

In a post published on his official Truth Social account, Trump said US combat aircraft dropped a full payload on the primary target — Fordow.

«We have completed our very successful attack on three nuclear facilities in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. All aircraft are now out of Iranian airspace,» the US President wrote.

«All planes are returning...

US strategic B-2 bombers carried out strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to a source quoted by Reuters.

The anonymous official confirmed that the B-2 aircraft had targeted three key sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — the same locations former President Donald Trump mentioned in a statement posted on his Truth Social account.

Earlier, Reuters reported on the deployment of B-2 bombers, prompting speculation about a potential operation.

Experts note that B-2 bombers are capable of delivering bunker-busting munitions designed to destroy underground facilities, such as the nuclear site at Fordow.

Iran launched two missile strikes on Israeli territory on the morning of June 22, targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa. According to The Times of Israel, the attacks injured 16 people.

Reports indicate that Iran deployed up to 30 missiles of various types, including ballistic ones. The strikes targeted Ben Gurion Airport, a research facility in Tel Aviv, as well as logistics bases and command centres.

One of the missiles hit a densely populated area near a care home. A 30-year-old man sustained moderate shrapnel injuries, while 15 others were treated for minor wounds. Emergency services continue to clear debris and...

Iran evacuated three major nuclear sites in advance of US airstrikes, Deputy Political Director Hassan Abedini announced on state television, according to the BBC.

Abedini stated that the sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan had been cleared «some time ago,» and that the bombings caused no significant damage as the nuclear materials had already been removed.

Former US President Donald Trump earlier said American forces had successfully targeted three key Iranian nuclear facilities. He later wrote that «Fordow is gone.»

Reuters reported that the operation involved US B-2 strategic bombers.

According to Fox News, the United...

An Indian surgeon has altered the appearance of two undocumented Uzbek women to make them resemble local residents in an attempt to help them evade immigration laws. Police in the city of Lucknow arrested Dr Vivek Gupta and his accomplice, Trijinraj, on June 21, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

Authorities accuse the doctor of performing plastic surgery on the two Uzbek nationals, who were staying in India illegally, to disguise their identities. Investigators say he also arranged temporary housing for them through a contact.

Police have charged Gupta and Trijinraj under sections 318(4) (fraud) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of...

The US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities is likely to trigger a surge in oil prices and boost demand for safe-haven assets, according to analysts interviewed by Reuters. The long-term impact will depend on Iran’s response.

At Monday’s market opening, analysts anticipate oil prices to rise sharply above $80 per barrel. Since Israel’s initial strikes on Iran, oil has already climbed by 18%, reaching its highest level since February 2025. However, this surge may be short-lived.

Should tensions ease and negotiations resume, investors expect a swift correction in the oil market. In a less optimistic scenario, Reuters sources do not rule...

By June 20, Uzbekistan repatriated around 60 of its citizens from Iran, according to the Dunyo news agency.

Turkmenistan provided the transit corridor that enabled the return.

Following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, emergency response units have been established at the country’s embassies in Ashgabat and Tehran. These teams are operating 24/7 to ensure the safety of Uzbek nationals in Iran.

In addition, the Uzbek Embassy in Tehran is maintaining close contact with local authorities to facilitate safe movement within the country.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that US President Donald Trump approved a plan...

The Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan has launched a new Digital Technology Centre in Shanghai, according to news agency Dunyo. The project was implemented in partnership with Chinese firm Shanghai Oriental Credits.

The Centre will serve as a platform to promote Uzbekistan’s technological capabilities and support the export of Uzbek IT services to the Chinese market.

Speaking at the opening, Shanghai Oriental Credits Chairman Hu Chunxue described Uzbekistan as one of the most promising partners in Central Asia. The company also announced plans to expand its operations in Uzbekistan’s digital technology sector.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Chinese President...

Ford has recalled 300,000 Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles due to a defect in the door locking system, Bloomberg reports.

The affected vehicles were manufactured between 2021 and 2025. Around 200,000 of them were sold in the United States.

The American carmaker will also recall 32,500 units from Canada and a further 120,000 from other countries for modification.

According to the company, the defect could cause the doors to become locked, making it difficult for drivers and passengers to exit the vehicle during emergencies.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that the number of electric vehicles in Tashkent is expected to...

Pakistan has proposed awarding US President Donald Trump the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The suggestion was made by the Pakistani government via social media platform X.

Islamabad said the proposal recognises Trump’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between Pakistan and India and promote reconciliation. The government also thanked the US president for his role in addressing the conflict over Jammu and Kashmir.

«Pakistan remains hopeful that its sincere efforts will continue to contribute to regional and global stability, especially in the context of ongoing crises in the Middle East,» the statement noted.