News

Uzbek Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov defeated India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the 10th round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, cementing his position at the top of the leaderboard and extending his lead.

While the game began with careful manoeuvring, it quickly transitioned into a sharp and complex battle. Playing with the black pieces, Sindarov allowed Praggnanandhaa to win a piece in exchange for two pawns. However, the Uzbek grandmaster seized the initiative and launched a dangerous attack.

The critical moment arose around move 22 when Sindarov capitalised on his opponent’s exposed king. Facing relentless pressure and an inescapable...

Uzbek referees will take part in the World Cup, which will be held this summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Football Association of Uzbekistan reported.

The Uzbek refereeing team will be headed by Ilgiz Tantashev. His assistants will be Andrey Sapenko and Timur Gainullin.

Ilgiz Tantashev was born on April 5, 1984, in Bukhara. He has been a FIFA referee since 2013 and began officiating international matches in 2014. His career includes work at major international tournaments, including the AFC Asian Cups in 2019 and 2023, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, as well as the 2024 Olympic...

To mark the 690th anniversary of Amir Temur‘s (Tamerlane) birth, Uzbekistan has released commemorative pure silver coins, the republic’s Central Bank reports. Their face value is 100,000 soums.

The obverse of the coins depicts Amir Temur, the mausoleum built in his honour in Samarkand and the Ak-Saray Palace in Shakhrisabz. On the reverse are quotes from the Sahibqiran:

The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan has explained how to use the FIFA PASS priority booking system for visa interviews.

This option is available to those who have already purchased tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the official website.

First, log in to your account on the website and submit the consent form to participate in FIFA PASS. Enter your name and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport.

Next, go to the embassy website and begin the visa application process. Select your country of citizenship or residence, complete the DS-160 online form, and enter your name...

Aziza Zokirova and Rukhshona Parpieva won silver medals at the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar. The tournament is not yet over for the team.

First, Aziza Zokirova competed in the under-75 kg category. Her opponent was China’s Bao Zi. In the early rounds, the Uzbek boxer looked confident and controlled the fight.

However, her opponent increased the pace later on. In the stages, she took control of the bout. As a result, the judges awarded the victory to Bao Zi with a score of 3:2, leaving Zokirova with a silver medal.

Then Rukhshona Parpieva fought in the final of the...

Porto drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. The winner of the tie will be decided in the return match.

How the match unfolded
Porto started the game actively and quickly took control. In the 10th minute, Gomes opened the scoring after a cross to the far post.

The hosts continued to apply pressure and dominated possession. However, Nottingham Forest quickly equalised. In the 13th minute, Fernandes scored an own goal, which became a key moment in the match.

After that, the game evened out. Porto attacked more frequently and created chances but failed...

A senior delegation from Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR held talks with Uzbekistan’s national oil and gas firm Uzbekneftegaz on April 9 to deepen bilateral cooperation.

SOCAR Vice President Arzu Javadova met with Uzbekneftegaz Chairman Abdugani Sanginov during a visit to Uzbekistan, where both sides reviewed current collaboration and explored opportunities for expansion.

The companies highlighted the «dynamic» development of their relationship, linking it to the broader strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Discussions also covered progress on a joint geological exploration project in the Ustyurt region, alongside other areas of mutual interest in the energy sector.

From...

Uzbekistan plans to introduce a system in which goods will first be stored in special bonded warehouses and then sold through online platforms. Customs duties and clearance will only be applied when the product is actually sold.

The mechanism is proposed to be tested between 2026 and 2028. It was presented to Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a briefing on the development of e-commerce.

This means companies will not have to pay duties in advance or spend money on inventory, which will ease operations for manufacturers, reduce logistics costs and speed up access to foreign markets.

All warehouses and platforms will be...

Uzbekistan’s National Investment Fund (UzNIF) has announced plans to publish a registration document and is considering an initial public offering on both the London Stock Exchange and the Tashkent Stock Exchange.

The proposed IPO would involve the sale of ordinary shares and global depositary receipts by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is currently the fund’s sole shareholder. UzNIF said it would not receive any proceeds from the share sale.

The fund was created under a presidential decree in 2024 and is designed to manage stakes in major state-owned enterprises while improving their governance, transparency and market...

Central Bank of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves stood at $68.9 bn at the start of April 2026, down by $8.1 bn over the previous month.

The volume of gold holdings increased from 13.1 mln to 13.4 mln troy ounces. However, the value of those reserves fell sharply by $6.82 bn to $60.85 bn, reflecting a decline in global prices.

Foreign currency reserves also dropped by $1.27 bn to $7.57 bn, marking their lowest level since January 1, 2025.

According to analysts at the World Gold Council, gold prices fell by 12% in...

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have signed 20 trade agreements worth more than $400 mln during a business forum in the Fergana Region, according to the Dunyo news agency.

The deals cover a range of sectors including textiles, raw material supplies and pharmaceuticals, along with other areas of production.

The Afghan delegation was led by Zalgai Azimi, deputy chairman of the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry for investment. The group also included business figures Abdulla Rahimi, Said Ahmad Nurzad and Ubaidullah Hotak.

The agreements follow the creation of a joint Afghan-Uzbek business council in late March, aimed at strengthening economic...

The developers behind the popular Chinese gacha game Genshin Impact have officially pulled the plug on the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

While the decision to terminate support was first announced back in August 2025, the transition became absolute on April 8, rendering the title inaccessible on Sony’s previous-generation console.

HoYoverse has released a statement advising dedicated fans to migrate their adventures to the PlayStation 5, PC or mobile devices. The developer reassured players that all account progress is safely stored and can be retrieved simply by logging into the same account on a supported platform.

The move...

South Korean music phenomenons BTS are preparing to ignite the global stage once again as they kick off their highly anticipated “Arirang” world tour.

Beginning this Thursday with a spectacular three-night residency at Goyang Stadium just northwest of Seoul, the monumental trek is officially slated to become the largest and most ambitious concert tour ever undertaken by a K-pop act.

Redefining the live experience

The Goyang concerts will serve as the opening chapter for a staggering 85 performances spanning 34 major cities worldwide. The meticulously planned international itinerary includes stops in major cultural hubs such as Tokyo, Los Angeles...

South Korean singer and actor Cha Eun-woo announced on Wednesday that he has fully settled the outstanding taxes at the centre of recent large-scale tax evasion allegations.

Currently undertaking his mandatory military service, the star used social media to update the public and offer a fresh apology regarding the financial scandal.

“I sincerely apologise for causing disappointment and confusion to many people, including my fans, with the recent tax controversy surrounding me,” Cha shared online.

He added that he fully respects the procedures and findings of the National Tax Service and has cleared the...

The Formula 1 paddock is abuzz with fresh speculation that Aston Martin has successfully negotiated a reduction in Jonathan Wheatley‘s gardening leave, independent accounts on X report citing As-Web Japan. According to recent social media reports, the highly respected motorsport executive is poised to join the Silverstone-based outfit immediately after the sport’s traditional summer break.

If true, the move would secure a rapid return to the pit wall for Wheatley, who unexpectedly stepped down from his role as Audi’s Team Principal last month.

A swift return to the paddock

The latest development stems from paddock chatter and...

As they prepare for their journey back to Earth, the Artemis II crew members say they possess a wealth of unreleased photographs and untold stories to share with the public, BBC reports.

Having successfully navigated around the Moon, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are scheduled to splash down near the coast of San Diego at approximately 20:00 U.S. EST on Friday (00:00 GMT).

Eager to Share the Experience

Addressing the press from the vacuum of space, mission pilot Victor Glover expressed the team’s immense eagerness to reveal what they have witnessed. This virtual press conference marked...

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov remains firmly in control at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after nine rounds, maintaining a comfortable lead in the race for the world title, RIA News reports.

In the latest round, Sindarov settled for a draw against Germany’s Matthias Blubaum, bringing his tally to seven points. The result keeps him well ahead of the chasing pack.

Closest rival Anish Giri strengthened his grip on second place after defeating Fabiano Caruana, moving to 5.5 points. Caruana now sits third on 4.5 points.

Elsewhere, the remaining matches ended in draws. R Praggnanandhaa shared the point with Wei...

Red Bull is set to lose another key figure, with Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase expected to join McLaren after his current contract ends, De Telegraaf.

Lambiase, 45, remains under contract with Red Bull until 2027 and is not expected to leave before then. However, multiple reports indicate he will move to McLaren in 2028 after accepting a lucrative offer.

Major move in the paddock

The British engineer, who also serves as Red Bull’s Head of Racing, had attracted interest from several teams, including Aston Martin and Williams. Sources suggest McLaren secured his services with a significantly...

Uzbekistan will introduce new rules requiring SIM cards to be registered in the user’s name for those signing up to payment services from April 22, the Central Bank said.

The requirement will not affect users already registered in banking apps or payment platforms.

New verification rules

Under the updated system, new users must pass a three-way verification check. Their phone number, personal identification number and bank card must all be registered to the same individual.

If the data does not match, registration may be denied or access to services restricted. Users attempting to link bank cards to numbers...

Jasveen Sangha, a British-born socialite turned drug supplier, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the ketamine-related death of Matthew Perry.

Sangha was convicted on multiple federal charges, including supplying the drug that led to the Friends star’s death in 2023. Prosecutors said she sold dozens of vials of ketamine, including the fatal dose, through an intermediary.

Once part of Hollywood’s elite social scene, Sangha, dubbed the «Ketamine Queen», was described by acquaintances as driven by access to celebrity circles rather than money. Authorities, however, said she ran a significant drug operation catering to high-profile...

Martin Brundle has confirmed he will return to coverage for the Miami Grand Prix after missing the previous two Formula 1 races in China and Japan.

The 66-year-old Sky Sports pundit and former F1 driver explained that he no longer attends every race weekend, now covering 16 events per season. His reduced schedule means he typically skips long-haul races, particularly those held early in the morning UK time.

«I do 16 races a year, so I have to miss some,» Brundle said, adding that he particularly regrets missing races at Suzuka, one of his...

The Uzbekistan U20 women’s national team confidently defeated Jordan at the Asian Cup, reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.

How the match unfolded
From the start, the Uzbek team took control of the game. Their pressure paid off in the first half when Etibor Shodieva opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a precise shot.

The lead quickly increased. Just four minutes later, Shakhnoza Dekanbaeva doubled the advantage. Uzbekistan continued to attack and create chances.

Before halftime, the team scored a third goal. Oydinoy Turgunova found the net in the 44th minute, making the outcome of...

The Uzbekistan national team performed successfully at the Asian Wrestling Championships. Alisher Ganiev won gold, while Shakhzod Kuchkarov secured bronze.

How the matches unfolded
First, attention focused on the under-60 kg category. Alisher Ganiev confidently progressed through the tournament. In the final, he faced North Korea’s Se Ung Ri.

In the decisive bout, the Uzbek wrestler fought aggressively. He controlled the match and capitalised on his chances. As a result, Ganiev won and became Asian champion.

The medal contests then continued in the under-72 kg category. Shakhzod Kuchkarov competed in the bronze medal match against Japan’s Taishi Narikuni.

The bout was...

The median offered salary in the management sector in Uzbekistan reached 11.28 mln soums in the first quarter of 2026, according to an analysis by hh.uz.

Over the past year, pay levels changed unevenly: while at the beginning of 2025 the median was nearly 12 mln soums, by the fourth quarter it had fallen to 10.6 mln soums.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of vacancies in the «Top and Middle Management» category increased by 10% year-on-year, reaching 1,118 listings. This is the highest level since 2025, when vacancies ranged from 946 to 1,027.

Employer demand is shifting...