News

During the European Political Community summit in Albania, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan grasped the finger of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in what appeared to be a subtle non-verbal exchange.

Footage shared by Turkish media shows the two leaders greeting each other with a handshake. Erdogan lightly pats Macron’s hand, prompting the French President to place his second hand over Erdogan’s — a gesture often interpreted as a show of dominance. As Macron begins to withdraw, Erdogan unexpectedly holds onto his finger.

The two leaders continue their conversation for several seconds with the help of interpreters. Erdogan releases...

Environmental specialists have explained the cause of the recent dust storm in Tashkent. Member of the Oliy Majlis Bakhtiyor Pulatov shared the details via his official Telegram channel.

Batyr Khalmurat, an environmental expert, stated that the storm resulted from an abrupt change in weather. Cold air moved in from the north while warm air rose from the south. As the two air masses collided over Tashkent, strong winds formed.

The wind picked up dust from the dry ground and spread it across the city. In some areas, wind speeds exceeded 20 metres per second. Experts refer to this meteorological...

On May 18, Pope Leo XIV formally assumed his position as head of the Catholic Church, receiving the pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman — key symbols of his spiritual authority.

The inauguration ceremony began with a prayer in the crypt of St Peter’s Basilica. Pope Leo XIV, accompanied by Eastern Catholic Patriarchs, descended to the tomb of the Apostle Peter — the first Bishop of Rome — where he knelt and prayed.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, who currently heads the Dicastery for Evangelisation, presented the pope with the traditional ring bearing the image of...

Construction of a new knitwear and garment factory has begun in the Mirishkor district of Kashkadarya region.

The project is being implemented by Sulton Tex Group, with a total investment of $7 mln. The site boundaries have already been marked, and initial foundation work is underway.

Once the factory opens, it will create 500 new jobs in the area.

Kursiv Uzbekistan previously reported that a 35-hectare tourism complex will be developed in Margilan.

Austrian singer JJ has won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his performance of the track Wasted Love.

The final took place last Saturday in Basel, Switzerland. Based on combined jury and public voting, JJ secured first place with 436 points — achieving a clear lead over the competition.

Israeli singer Yuval Raphael finished second with 357 points, followed closely by Estonia’s Tommy Cash with 356 points. Contestants from Sweden and Italy completed the top five.

On May 17, Tashkent and several other regions in Uzbekistan experienced dust storms and strong winds. In response, the Ministry of Health published recommendations on how to stay safe in conditions of heavy dust exposure.

Dr. Elmira Razikova, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Director of the Republican Specialised Scientific Centre of Allergology, advised individuals with chronic respiratory conditions — including bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and bronchitis — to avoid going outdoors during such weather.

Dust-laden air often contains high concentrations of pollen and fungal spores, which pose serious health risks, especially for people with allergies and asthma.

Medical professionals...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy and Russia’s Perm Krai have signed a cooperation roadmap, according to the regional government of Perm. The agreement was concluded during the OGU 2025 oil and gas exhibition held in Tashkent.

The roadmap outlines joint efforts in industrial cooperation, investment and technology exchange, as well as workforce development.

Perm Krai Governor Dmitry Makhonin announced plans to expand the supply of oil and gas equipment to Uzbekistan. He noted that the region already exports equipment, transport, and timber to the country. The number of joint ventures is increasing, and cooperation between Uzbek and Perm-based industrial enterprises...

On May 16, the international video game and animation festival Game Fest 2025 officially opened in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, according to IT Park.

The event brought together game developers, investors and representatives of major international publishers. Festival attendees had the chance to explore cutting-edge developments in virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Local industry experts exchanged insights with international colleagues. At the same time, Uzbek development teams had the opportunity to pitch their projects to venture capitalists, compete for funding, and seek access to global markets.

The event included representatives from leading companies such as Gem Capital, ProxyPlanet...

Abduqodir Khusanov has made it into Manchester City’s squad for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, though he is not in the starting XI. The match will be held at Wembley Stadium.

Starting lineup: Ortega, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Riley, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Savinho, Marmoush, Doku, Haaland.

Husanov has been named among the substitutes and could see game time during the match.

Since March 2025, Khusanov hasn’t featured in any official games for the club, missing six consecutive matches — some as an unused sub, others entirely out of the squad.

However, ahead of the final, he was...

Uzbekistan has developed and officially approved a national strategy to combat childhood cancer for the years 2025–2030, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

The strategy aims to strengthen pediatric care and promote a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating childhood cancers. Its implementation is expected to enhance the healthcare workforce, modernise infrastructure, and establish a unified approach to delivering high-quality medical care for young cancer patients.

The initiative will be supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, the International Medical University of Vienna and other global partners.

The strategy includes measures to improve early cancer detection and...

The Uzbek national boxing team claimed nine medals and took first place overall at the Feliks Stamm Tournament held in Warsaw, according to Uzbekistan’s National Olympic Committee.

The event was recently recognised as part of the World Boxing global championship series. Uzbek boxers earned six gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

? Gold medalists:

? Silver:

? Bronze:

In Brazil’s previous World Cup stage, Uzbekistan also led the team standings with five gold medals.

Notably, Kazakhstan did not...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a phone call with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to congratulate the President of Kazakhstan on his birthday, as reported the press service of the Uzbek head of state.

Mirziyoyev wished Tokayev continued success in his work for the prosperity of the Kazakh people. The two leaders discussed strengthening strategic cooperation and good-neighbourly relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. They also outlined plans and dates for upcoming bilateral meetings and events.

During the conversation, the presidents focused on industrial cooperation, logistics projects, tourism, education and agriculture.

President Tokayev turned 72 years old on May 17.

Kursiv Uzbekistan...

The Urals have received their first shipments of fresh seasonal fruit — apricots and cherries. According to the Ural Customs Service, this year’s early deliveries show a significant shift in supplier geography.

Uzbekistan sent the first apricot shipment of the season, weighing 440 kg and valued at over RUB 100,000 (UZS 16.3 mln). However, customs officials report that Türkiye now dominates the apricot market in the region, accounting for around 95% of imports during the first two weeks of May. In contrast, Uzbekistan supplied nearly 80% of the apricot volume during the same period in 2024.

Cherry shipments have...

Kursiv Uzbekistan has been ranked among the five most cited media outlets in Uzbekistan, according to Brand Analytics. The results were presented at the Brand Analytics Conference Uzbekistan 2025, the country’s first industry event dedicated to social media analytics.

In March 2025, Kursiv Uzbekistan placed fifth in the national ranking with a citation index of 9,071. This figure reflects the number of times the outlet’s content was referenced and shared across Uzbek social media platforms during the month.

Vasiliy Cherny, Director of Strategic Communications at Brand Analytics, noted that the ranking is based on publicly verifiable data and serves as an indicator of the...

Uzbekistan exported 5,900 tonnes of tomatoes worth $6.8 mln in 1Q25, according to the State Statistics Committee. Compared to the same period in 2024, the value of tomato exports fell by 23%.

The average export price rose by 6.6% year-on-year, reaching $1,160 per tonne.

Russia remained the main destination, importing 5,500 tonnes and accounting for more than 93% of total exports. Other key markets included Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and the UAE.

In December 2024, industry media reported a sharp decline in demand for greenhouse tomatoes in Russia.

Kursiv Uzbekistan previously reported that Uzbekistan halved its carrot exports in...

Authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore have reported a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases, signalling the start of a new wave of infections in Southeast Asia, according to Bloomberg.

Experts attribute the increase not to a more dangerous variant, but to declining population immunity.

In Hong Kong, the COVID-19 test positivity rate rose from 1.7% in mid-March to 11.4% — higher than the peak recorded in August 2024. The Centre for Health Protection described current virus activity as relatively high. Albert Au, head of the centre’s infectious diseases division, said the current positivity rate is the highest in the...

Between January and March 2025, the total value of services provided by insurance companies in Uzbekistan reached UZS 2.2 trillion ($169.3 mln), according to the State Statistics Committee.

The figure marks an 11.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

By the end of 2024, Uzbekistan had 33 registered insurance firms. Their combined authorised capital exceeded UZS 2.9 trillion ($223.2 mln).

Insurance payouts for the same year also totalled UZS 2.2 trillion ($169.3 mln).

Kursiv Uzbekistan previously reported that in 2024, insurance companies in Uzbekistan collected UZS 9.8 trillion ($754.4 mln) in premiums.

Authorities at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow have detained a citizen of Uzbekistan who was wanted under an Interpol notice, according to the National Central Bureau of Interpol in Uzbekistan.

After verification, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs transferred the individual to Tashkent, where he was taken into custody by Uzbek law enforcement agencies.

The man, a former company director, reportedly took out a loan of $9 mln for cotton cultivation but failed to repay the debt. After selling the harvest, he fled abroad. Authorities issued an international warrant for his arrest on charges of large-scale embezzlement.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Vice President of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz on May 15 to discuss preparations for the next session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

Both sides reviewed opportunities to strengthen Uzbek-Turkish relations, with a focus on trade and investment.

Uzbekistan and Türkiye plan to expand the list of goods covered by the preferential trade agreement and advance joint projects in innovation, energy, industry, pharmaceuticals, textiles, tourism, and education. They also discussed launching a new programme for cultural and humanitarian exchange.

Akbar Djuraev of Uzbekistan has secured the title of overall champion at the Asian Weightlifting Championships, according to the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan.

Djuraev achieved the highest results across all three categories, earning three gold medals for the national team.

The silver medals also went to Uzbekistan, with Sharofiddin Amriddinov claiming second place and winning three silvers.

The Uzbek national team currently ranks third in the overall medal standings, with three gold, three silver, and five bronze medals.

Kursiv Uzbekistan previously reported that Rigina Adashbaeva won two bronze medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in China.

Uzbekistan is the first country in Central Asia to implement UNESCO’s EMIS Progress Assessment Tool for Transformation (EMIS PATT). The tool evaluates how well national education data systems support policy and planning.

Led by the UNESCO Tashkent Office, the assessment focuses on four areas: governance, management, technical infrastructure, and data use. It helps identify gaps and improve how education data is collected, managed, and applied.

The review included four working sessions with experts from the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education.

UNESCO noted that Uzbekistan has a more advanced EMIS than countries where...

Beepul, a fintech service operated by JSC «Beelab,» closed the first quarter of 2025 with record-breaking revenue growth. In the first three months of the year, its revenue more than tripled compared to the same period in 2024. At the same time, the number of active users has steadily increased, reflecting strong demand driven by product enhancements and strategic initiatives to broaden the customer base.

Key growth drivers include an effective user acquisition strategy. New users benefit from the Welcome Bonus campaign, which allows commission-free transfers from bank cards of up to UZS 20 million per month. Meanwhile, existing Beeline...

Between January and March 2025, 13,500 Uzbek citizens visited Thailand, according to data from the State Statistics Committee. Compared to the same period in 2024, the figure has more than doubled — increasing by 2.2 times.

The majority of visitors travelled for tourism purposes. In the first quarter alone, 11,800 Uzbek tourists visited Thailand.

In addition, over 1,500 Uzbek nationals travelled to the country to visit relatives. A further 56 citizens made the trip for official or business-related purposes.

A round-trip flight from Tashkent to Bangkok, Thailand’s popular resort capital, costs approximately UZS 4.2 mln.

Kursiv Uzbekistan previously reported

Tashkent has included 300 sites in a large-scale urban renovation programme, as outlined in the capital’s General Plan through to 2045. Officials presented the details during a briefing with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In the first phase, covering 2025–2026, the city will implement 65 projects aimed at improving living conditions, modernising neighbourhoods, and reducing disparities between older and newer districts. The plan includes preserving existing trees and expanding green areas.

The General Plan sets a target to triple Tashkent’s green zones, increasing them to 25,000 hectares. By 2030, the city also plans to reconstruct 100 kilometres of...