News

Central Asia is stepping up efforts to become a global hub for artificial intelligence services, with Uzbekistan leading a regional push to generate $5 bn in AI and IT service exports by 2030. Governments and industry leaders are investing in digital infrastructure, data centres and workforce development to capture growing global demand for AI-powered services.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum, officials said the region aims to move beyond traditional outsourcing towards higher-value AI solutions, cloud computing and digital exports. Uzbekistan’s IT Park has already reported strong growth in service exports, while incentives for...

Uzbekistan is considering introducing legal restrictions on social media use for children under the age of 16, as authorities seek to strengthen online safety measures for minors. The proposal was announced by Minister of Preschool and School Education E’zozxon Karimova, who said a draft law could soon be prepared for public consultation.

According to the minister, the initiative is designed to encourage responsible use of digital technologies rather than ban smartphones altogether. Uzbekistan already requires pupils to leave their mobile phones before entering school, but officials say enforcement of existing rules remains inconsistent. The proposed legislation would introduce...

An international campaign promoting the Uzbekistan tourism brand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup generated more than 1.07 bn views and led to a sharp rise in interest in the country as a tourist destination, according to Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee.

Alongside Uzbekistan’s national team matches at the tournament, the number of foreign media publications about the country increased significantly, as did the number of travel-related searches linked to Uzbekistan.

The most noticeable rise in interest was recorded during Uzbekistan’s matches against Colombia and Portugal. According to the Tourism Committee, searches for «Uzbekistan Colombia World Cup 2026» rose by...

Harry Kane may be England’s leading goalscorer and one of the favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but Jude Bellingham is increasingly becoming the driving force behind the Three Lions’ FIFA World Cup campaign.

The Real Madrid midfielder has delivered a series of influential performances in North America, combining goals, assists and commanding displays in midfield. His standout showing against Panama, where he scored once and set up Kane’s record-breaking World Cup goal, reinforced his growing importance to Thomas Tuchel‘s side.

Bellingham’s creativity, work rate and ability to influence matches at both ends of the pitch have prompted...

A number of suspected terror incidents in the UK are not immediately recognised as terrorism, raising concerns that some attacks are going under the public radar.

Security experts say incidents involving lone actors, hate crimes, arson, knife attacks or vandalism can take months to be formally classified as terrorism. This delay means the public may not always understand the wider security picture when attacks first happen.

The issue comes amid heightened concern over extremist violence, antisemitic and anti-Muslim attacks, and so-called hybrid threats linked to hostile states. UK authorities currently assess the national terrorism threat level as severe...

Morocco’s remarkable rise on the world stage is being hailed as a blueprint for African football after the Atlas Lions continued their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by reaching the Round of 16.

The North African side made history in 2022 by becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. Four years later, Morocco has shown that success was no one-off, with another strong tournament built on long-term planning, investment in youth development and effective talent identification.

Much of the credit has been given to head coach Mohamed Ouahbi and the country’s football development...

Model and actress Cara Delevingne has publicly confirmed that she was romantically involved with Amber Heard, ending years of speculation surrounding their relationship.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Delevingne revealed that rumours linking the pair first emerged while Heard was still married to Johnny Depp, but insisted there was no romantic relationship between them at that time. According to Delevingne, they became involved only after Heard filed for divorce in 2016.

Delevingne described their relationship as an “entanglement” during Heard’s divorce and said Depp’s reported jealousy over their friendship came before they had actually become romantically involved...

Bitcoin has fallen to its lowest level of 2026, extending a prolonged sell-off that has wiped out more than half of its value from last year’s record high and fuelled fears of a new “crypto winter.”

The world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped below the key $60,000 level during the latest market downturn, with the wider digital asset market also suffering steep losses. Ethereum and several major altcoins have declined even more sharply as investors continue to move away from riskier assets.

Analysts attribute the latest slide to a combination of sustained outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, uncertainty over...

Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of presidential administration, expressed her gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron for his warm reception during a recent diplomatic engagement.

During their meeting, she conveyed heartfelt greetings on behalf of the President of Uzbekistan and highlighted the enduring partnership that unites the two nations across vital strategic spheres. Mirziyoyeva noted her confidence that numerous joint projects and mutually beneficial initiatives are on the horizon.

Alongside her meeting with the French head of state, Mirziyoyeva also held a dialogue with France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot. She underscored that France remains one of Uzbekistan’s...

International financial services group Freedom Holding Corp has announced the appointment of Valeriy Kim as its new Chief Financial Officer. Kim steps into the position after previously serving as the holding company’s Vice President of Finance and leading its subsidiary, Freedom Holding Operations LLP.

Kim succeeds Evgeniy Ler, who has held the top financial role since 2015. Ler will remain with the organisation by transitioning into a new capacity as a special advisor to Chief Executive Officer Timur Turlov. In this role, Ler will oversee corporate fundraising initiatives and handle mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Commenting on the executive changes, Freedom’s...

The first population and agricultural census in the modern history of Uzbekistan has been completed at a total cost of $4.68 mln. The most significant economic achievement of the organisational phase was the unprecedentedly low per capita cost of the digital rollout.

Jakhongir Kambarov, head of the department for the organisation and conduct of the population census at the Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, announced the financial details. The agency representative stated that the total expenditure equated to a mere 12 cents per person.

This financial efficiency was achieved while successfully recording a total national...

Taylor Swift may officially be entering her marriage era. The 14-time Grammy-winning musician and her fiance Travis Kelce are heavily rumoured to be tying the knot in New York later this week. While the couple’s representatives remain tight-lipped and no official announcements have been made, city permits and local chatter strongly point towards an impending Manhattan ceremony.

Despite the lack of formal confirmation, anticipation has reached fever pitch for what many are considering the biggest celebrity wedding of the century.

Elana Fishman, a style director for the New York Post’s Page Six, noted that the entire city is buzzing. She...

Apple’s famously guarded supply chain has suffered a major blow after ransomware hackers published sensitive data concerning the unreleased iPhone 18 Pro. The files were stolen from Tata Electronics, a vital Indian contract manufacturer for the tech giant, and are now circulating on the dark web.

Among the most alarming elements of the breach for Apple are photographs detailing drop tests conducted at a Tata facility in early 2026. The images display a grey handset featuring the iconic Apple logo and a triple-camera arrangement. Crucially, these files are marked with confidential watermarks and feature internal codenames that align with...

Snaresbrook Crown Court has opened proceedings against acclaimed actor Micheal Ward who is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman in 2023. The 28-year-old star has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and two charges of rape. He maintains that all physical interactions were completely consensual.

The jury was told that the initial encounter occurred at a nightclub party in north-east London. The complainant stated she recognised Ward from his prominent roles in film and television and felt flattered when he asked for her Snapchat details.

The trial heard that she willingly accompanied the actor...

Artur Dmitriev, the celebrated Russian figure skater who made history as the only male pairs competitor to win Olympic gold with two different partners, has died in Moscow at the age of 58.

His former skating partner Oksana Kazakova confirmed the news to the TASS news agency on Monday. She revealed that Dmitriev passed away on Sunday evening after failing to survive heart surgery at a Moscow hospital. Kazakova paid tribute to her former teammate by describing him as a “wonderful person and a unique athlete”.

Dmitriev leaves behind a historic legacy on the ice. He secured his first...

An explosion outside a residential block in Monaco has left three individuals wounded, with two currently fighting for their lives. The unprecedented blast prompted a massive emergency response and has sent shockwaves through the typically peaceful principality.

The incident took place just before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Rue Révérend Père Louis Frolla, a street situated perilously close to the French border.

According to official reports, the explosion originated from a bag abandoned outside the building. Christophe Mirmand, Monaco’s Minister of State, revealed that the bag contained an improvised explosive device packed with bolts and pellets. The Monaco...

The initial results of Uzbekistan’s national census were revealed at the presentation of the preliminary results of the population and agricultural census.

Conducted between January 15 and February 28, 2026, this data collection marks the first nationwide census since 1989. It provides an updated snapshot of the country’s demographic and economic landscape after nearly four decades.

The preliminary figures reveal that the total population of Uzbekistan has reached 39,047,321.

A breakdown of the population by gender shows a relatively balanced society with a slight male majority. The newly presented data indicates that there are 19,766,166 men, comprising 50.6% of...

Tomorrow X Together will release their fifth Japanese single on August 19. The band’s label Big Hit Music officially confirmed the launch date for the new project on Tuesday.

The five members initially revealed the news to fans last week. The announcement occurred in Kobe during the final show of a special concert tour marking the seventh anniversary of the group.

The upcoming single is titled “Setsuna Hanabi”. The release includes four tracks in total. The record features three new Japanese songs and a rearranged version of the main track.

The quintet will host a live performance showcase in...

Warning: Major spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2

HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2 shifts the focus from spectacular dragon battles to the political and emotional consequences of war. While the Battle of the Gullet dominates the opening moments, the episode ultimately belongs to two storylines that fans of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood have been waiting years to see: Aemond Targaryen’s arrival at Harrenhal and Rhaenyra Targaryen’s capture of King’s Landing.

The episode expands the Dance of the Dragons in several important ways, setting up future alliances, deepening existing rivalries and...

Pop superstar Dua Lipa has opened a permanent library dedicated to banned and censored books inside Porto’s historic Livraria Lello bookshop, one of Portugal’s most famous literary landmarks.

Named the Manifesto Library, the project debuted during the BABELL – City of Books festival and features around 100 works that have faced censorship or suppression around the world. The collection includes titles by acclaimed authors such as Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Olga Tokarczuk and Reginald Dwayne Betts.

The initiative builds on Lipa’s Service95 Book Club, which she launched in 2021 to promote reading and diverse voices. In a statement...

A former German ambassador has urged Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to support France’s proposal for a broader European nuclear deterrent, arguing that the UK should play a leading role in strengthening the continent’s security.

The intervention comes amid growing debate over Europe’s defence strategy following renewed concerns about long-term security and the future of transatlantic cooperation. Supporters of the proposal argue that closer cooperation with France’s nuclear capabilities could reinforce European deterrence in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

Burnham, who is widely seen as a potential future Labour leader, has not publicly endorsed the proposal. The call...

Authorities in Venezuela confirm that more than 1,400 people have died and thousands remain missing after two earthquakes struck the country last week.

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the disaster as a doublet event with the tremors occurring just 39 seconds apart. The resulting structural damage is the most severe the nation has experienced in over a century.

Search and rescue operations have now passed the 72-hour mark. This timeframe is widely considered the critical window for finding survivors without a water source. While studies show rescues can happen up to six days later the chances of survival decrease...

Dame Penelope Keith, a cornerstone of 1970s British television comedy, has died at the age of 86. The actress was best known for her unforgettable performances in the classic sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born.

A statement released on Monday on behalf of her relatives confirmed that the star passed away peacefully at her Surrey home while living with cancer. She had resided at the property for more than 50 years. Her family expressed deep gratitude for the care she received during her medical treatments and requested that the public respect their privacy during this time.

The Uzbekistan national football team has dropped from 50th to 60th place in the live FIFA rankings following their elimination from the World Cup.

According to the latest data from the international governing body, the team lost approximately 49 points during the tournament. This leaves their current provisional total at 1409.73 points.

Uzbekistan now sit directly below Qatar, who occupy 59th place with 1411.07 points. Bosnia and Herzegovina sit just beneath the Central Asian nation in 61st position with a total of 1408.93 points. At the opposite ends of the global standings, world champions Argentina retain the top spot...