News

Queen Sirikit, the mother of Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 93.

According to the Thai Royal Household Bureau, she passed away peacefully at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) on Friday in a Bangkok hospital. The statement noted that the Queen had suffered from several health issues since being admitted in 2019, including a recent blood infection.

For more than sixty years, Queen Sirikit was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, who passed away in 2016. King Vajiralongkorn has instructed the Royal Household Bureau to organise a royal funeral, and her body will lie...

Uzbekistan has made significant progress in tackling air pollution. In 2024, it became the first country in Central Asia to align its national standards for harmful PM2.5 particles with the World Health Organization’s target indicators, according to the 2025 State of Global Air report.

The new permissible level of PM2.5 is now set at 35 micrograms per cubic metre — the minimum threshold recommended by the WHO for countries with high pollution levels. By comparison, nations with the cleanest air, such as Finland and Iceland, record average PM2.5 concentrations below 5 µg/m³.

To improve air quality control, Uzbekistan has...

Uzbekistan’s historic city of Samarkand will host the UNESCO General Assembly from October 30 to November 13, 2025, marking the first time in four decades that the event is held outside Paris.

The last session outside France took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1985. Bringing the Assembly to Samarkand underscores both the city’s global cultural significance and Uzbekistan’s growing role in international cooperation on education, science, and culture.

Home to landmarks such as the Registan, Ulugbek Observatory, and Shahi-Zinda Mausoleum, Samarkand stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the Silk Road’s legacy of cultural exchange.

Uzbekistan is expanding cooperation with UNESCO to accelerate reforms in education, science, culture, and innovation, officials said. The country joined UNESCO in 1993 and opened a UNESCO office in Tashkent in 1996, establishing a national commission to coordinate joint projects.

Tashkent is now moving toward accession to UNESCO’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, a step aimed at easing diploma recognition, expanding academic mobility, and improving graduate employability. Uzbekistan has already ratified the 1960 Convention against Discrimination in Education and acceded to the 1989 Convention on Technical and Vocational Education.

Nine UNESCO Chairs operate across...

Uzbekistan and the European Union have officially wrapped up bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking a major step toward full membership, according to the Special Representative of the President on WTO issues, Azizbek Urunov.

The announcement was made during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Brussels. Urunov highlighted that the talks, covering market access, tariffs, and trade in services, represented over two years of «active negotiations, dialogue, and joint work.»

The EU thus becomes the 31st party with which Uzbekistan has successfully completed WTO accession talks, following Panama’s accession last week. Only three...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) has released updated forecasts pointing to continued economic expansion facilitated by a tightening of monetary policy and declining inflationary pressure.

In its latest guidance, the CBU anticipates headline inflation to fall to around 7 % by end-2026, driven by reduced external inflation shocks and a firming exchange rate. Trend Real GDP growth is expected to remain strong, reaching approximately 7–7.5 % for 2025.

The bank has also maintained its policy rate at 14 % per annum, citing the dual need to temper aggregate demand and anchor...

Nike has unveiled Project Amplify, described as the world’s first powered footwear system. The new technology is not built for elite runners but for everyday users who want to run or walk faster with less effort.

Developed with robotics firm Dephy, the system works like pedal assist on an e-bike, using a lightweight motor and drive belt to provide an extra push — effectively acting as a second set of calf muscles.

The sleek, ankle-brace-like device includes a rechargeable battery and is designed for people running at a 10–12-minute mile pace. Nike said over 400 athletes have tested prototypes...

Uzbekistan’s inflation fell to 8% in September 2025, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month, the Central Bank reports. The slowdown was driven by the stronger soum and tight monetary policy.

Food and non-food inflation eased to 6.1%, helping to reduce overall prices, though service inflation stayed high due to strong consumer demand. Core inflation also declined to 7%.

The regulator noted that the firm exchange rate supported price stability, particularly for imported goods. A growing share of goods and services is now showing slower price growth, signalling broader price stabilisation.

Inflation expectations among households and businesses are...

Meghan Markle has shared a glimpse into her relaxed home life, revealing that she welcomes guests to her Montecito residence barefoot and wearing an apron.

Speaking during a livestream event at Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland, California, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex said her informal approach helps visitors feel instantly at ease.

«It demystifies,» she explained. «People walk in and go, ‘Oh, she’s in this with me.’»

Instead of offering a traditional cup of tea, Meghan prefers to keep warm cider or hot toddies simmering on the stove, encouraging guests to help themselves while...

Another day, another AI headline, this time from Krafton, the studio behind PUBG. The company has announced a sweeping «AI-first» transformation, investing more than 100 billion won ($72 mln) into advanced «Agentic AI» systems and automation tools designed to handle repetitive tasks and analytics.

Krafton says the move will allow developers to focus on creativity and innovation. It plans to build a massive GPU cluster using NVIDIA’s B300 chips and aims to have its AI platform fully operational by 2026. The company also pledged 30 bn won ($22 mln) annually to help employees experiment with AI.

Not everyone...

Lionel Messi is the odds-on favourite to win his second MLS MVP award this season, after what many analysts call the best individual campaign in league history.

The Inter Miami star claimed both the Golden Boot and the assist title despite missing nearly a quarter of the season, setting new records for non-penalty goals and total goal contributions. Advanced analytics ranked his performance well above every other player in MLS, surpassing even Carlos Vela’s landmark 2019 season.

Yet, despite Messi’s dominance, his influence on the league’s broader popularity remains debatable. Attendance has dropped by 5.5% compared to last year...

On October 24 in Brussels, a ceremony was held to sign the Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union, attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The new document replaces the 1996 partnership agreement, providing a modern and broader legal framework for cooperation. Negotiations began in 2019 and concluded in 2022, with the text formally initialled in Brussels that July.

Comprising nine sections, 356 articles, and 14 annexes, the agreement covers nearly all areas of bilateral relations. It aims to strengthen political dialogue...

During his official visit to Belgium, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held a roundtable with senior executives from leading European companies and banks, including Linde, SUEZ, Commerzbank, the European Investment Bank, and others. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also took part.

The President said the participation of major European firms reflected mutual trust and a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation. He noted that the upcoming Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU would mark a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Over the past seven years, Uzbekistan’s trade with the EU has doubled, and the number of...

Uzbekistan’s economy continued to expand at a strong pace in the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from the Central Bank. Backed by steady investment and business activity, the regulator expects annual GDP growth to reach around 7–7.5%.

Rising household incomes and an increase in retail lending have supported consumer spending, which in turn could sustain inflationary pressures in the months ahead. The Bank also noted potential secondary effects from the liberalisation of energy prices and risks linked to supply constraints for certain goods.

In response, the Central Bank said it would maintain a tight monetary policy...

AI startup Anthropic is deepening its partnership with Google, securing access to as many as one mln of the tech giant’s AI chips. The deal is valued in the tens of billions of dollars.

The agreement, announced October 23, will provide Anthropic with over one GW of computing power from 2026 to train future versions of its Claude AI model using Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs), previously reserved mainly for internal use.

Anthropic said it chose TPUs for their cost efficiency and performance, as well as its positive track record using them to build and deploy Claude models.

Google...

Porsche is set to post a major quarterly loss as CEO Oliver Blume ends his ten-year tenure. The company faces a sharp decline in China, rising US tariffs, and mounting costs from its troubled shift to electric vehicles, Reuters reports.

Michael Leiters, former McLaren boss, will take over in January. Investors hope he can revive demand in China and guide Porsche through its EV challenges, though confidence remains weak.

Analysts expect a €611 mln operating loss for the third quarter, compared with a €974 mln profit last year, largely due to €1.8 bn in EV-related costs.

Blume predicts recovery...

Musician and storyteller Dave Carroll has released a new protest song, «Don’t Fly Wizzness Class,» tackling airline mistreatment and calling for greater fairness and respect.

The Canadian artist, known for his viral «United Breaks Guitars» series, collaborated with Sukhrob Ubaydullaev from Uzbekistan, whose ordeal with Wizz Air in 2023 inspired the project.

Ubaydullaev and three other Uzbek passengers were denied boarding their flight from Rome despite valid tickets. They were given no explanation or compensation. With his student visa close to expiry, Ubaydullaev was forced to travel to Turkey, where he became stranded for a week before eventually returning...

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration, congratulated the winners and participants of this year’s Zakovat-Gambit chess tournament.

Now in its fourth year, the tournament gathered 2,210 players from across Uzbekistan, including 286 women and girls, whose strong performance was particularly commended. Mirziyoyeva noted that Zakovat-Gambit has not only boosted interest in chess but also helped young people develop strategic thinking, patience and ambition.

«We have moved from scepticism to international recognition and pride in our chess players. This success reflects trust, dedication and teamwork,» she wrote, adding that chess is an intellectual discipline that...

Condor Energies, a Canadian energy transition firm active in Central Asia, has completed the vertical section of its first gas well in Uzbekistan, reaching a depth of 2,805 metres. The pilot well confirmed gas-bearing zones in both carbonate and deeper clastic reservoirs, with 28.5 metres and 9.1 metres of net gas pay respectively.

The company is now sidetracking the well horizontally, aiming for a 1,000-metre section, the longest ever drilled in Uzbekistan. Completion and testing are expected by November 2025, with projected initial output between 13 and 20 MMscf/day.

Condor is also deploying a second rig to drill in...

From 2026, Uzbekistan will introduce tax incentives for companies developing satellite communication systems. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree aimed at enhancing internet and telecom services in remote areas.

Under the new policy, firms deploying satellite networks in medium and low Earth orbits will be exempt from customs duties, VAT and profit tax for five years. The government also plans to establish legal frameworks to support satellite internet in regions lacking terrestrial network coverage.

Kursiv also reports that in Karakalpakstan, investors who put more than $100 mln into artificial intelligence infrastructure will pay an electricity tariff...

Uzbekistan is rapidly developing its logistics and warehouse infrastructure, emerging as a key player in the Eurasian market. According to the Eurasian Development Bank, the country’s total warehouse space will reach 600,000 sq m by 2025, driven by a construction boom that began in 2021.

Together with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan is helping shape a new regional logistics system. Experts predict that by 2040, demand for warehouse space could more than double to over 120 mln sq m.

Foreign trade volumes are expected to grow from 1,278 mln tonnes in 2023 to between 1,420 and 1,809 mln tonnes...

According to a forecast by Boston Consulting Group, Uzbekistan’s electricity consumption is expected to nearly double by 2035, rising from 68 to 123 bn kWh. This was announced by Igor Alekseev, Managing Director at BCG, during the «Investor Day» event, as reported by Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The primary drivers of this growth will be the industrial sector, residential consumption, transport and digital infrastructure. Industrial enterprises are projected to increase their electricity usage from 27 to 56 bn kWh. Household consumption will grow from 19 to 28 bn kWh, while the transition to electric heating will contribute an additional 10 bn kWh...

Since January 2025, Uzbekistan’s solar and wind power stations have produced 9 bn kWh of electricity, Ministry of Energy reports. The country now operates 12 solar and 5 wind farms with a combined capacity of nearly 4.7 GW. This clean energy helped save 2.7 bn cubic metres of natural gas and prevented around 4 mln tonnes of harmful emissions.

In total, Uzbekistan’s hydro, solar and wind facilities have generated 14.5 bn kWh this year, accounting for roughly 23% of national electricity output. That’s enough to supply about 7.5 mln households for ten months.

Kursiv also reports that Allied...

Members of the Afghanistan women’s refugee football squad were prevented from flying to the United Arab Emirates after their visa applications were rejected, forcing FIFA to relocate their debut matches to Morocco.

The team, known as Afghan Women United, had been due to compete in the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series against Chad and Libya this week. Despite being advised by FIFA to go to airports while visas were pending, players were told not to board flights, leaving many traumatised and recalling memories of their evacuation from Kabul in 2021.

FIFA later announced that «unforeseen travel challenges» led to the...