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According to the Global Country Perceptions 2026 survey, Uzbekistan ranked 71st out of 132 countries with an international perception index of +7. This result is comparable to those of Kazakhstan and China and indicates that positive views of the republic outweigh negative perceptions abroad.

Infographic: Kursiv Uzbekistan, Graphic Editor: Andrey Matochenko

The study is based on a survey of 46,700 respondents conducted across 85 countries between March 19 and April 21, 2026. Participants were asked about their overall attitudes towards different countries. The final index was calculated as the difference between the share of positive and negative evaluations.

Moody’s has upgraded Uzbekistan’s sovereign credit rating from Ba3 to Ba2 while maintaining a stable outlook for the republic. The international ratings agency attributed this positive evaluation to notable improvements in public administration, the implementation of consistent economic policies and a significantly more resilient national budget.

Over the past three years the Uzbek economy has experienced strong expansion with an average growth rate of 6.9%. This upward trajectory peaked last year when the gross domestic product surged by an impressive 7.7%. Alongside this rapid economic acceleration the government has successfully managed to more than halve its budget deficit to approximately...

The total volume of deposits in Uzbekistan’s banking sector reached 460.6 trln soums ($38.34 bn) by the beginning of June this year. According to the Central Bank of the Republic this marks an annual growth rate of 33%.

While lending has also expanded over the past year the pace of credit growth has notably lagged behind the rapid accumulation of deposits. The total volume of issued credits grew from 567.7 trln soums ($47.26 bn) to 636 trln soums ($52.94 bn).

Because deposit volumes are growing at a much faster rate the overall ratio of credits to deposits across the national...

Over the past decade Uzbekistan has attracted $12 bn in investments into its construction industry. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the significant financial milestone during a recent government meeting dedicated to the sector’s ongoing development.

According to the head of state this substantial influx of capital has successfully facilitated the launch of 4,000 new enterprises across the republic.

“The country has created capacities that fully meet domestic demand for more than 20 main types of construction products including cement, glass, basalt, ceramics, gas blocks and dry building mixtures,” Mirziyoyev stated.

Local production and...

The global electric vehicle market is going through a period that seemed unlikely just a few years ago. China, which accounted for the majority of global EV sales growth, is gradually becoming a mature market, Europe is once again stimulating demand through subsidies, and the United States risks slowing its pace of electrification due to changes in regulatory policy. The new growth engines are emerging economies, from Turkey and Vietnam to Brazil and Indonesia.

According to BloombergNEF’s forecast, electric vehicles will account for 27% of the global passenger car market in 2026, with sales exceeding 23 mln units. Behind these...

The Asia Brand Research Institute revealed that actor Byeon Woo-seok has secured the number one position in the K-Brand Index for advertising models during the first half of 2026.

The big data evaluation agency published the results on Thursday following a comprehensive analysis of the 30 most-searched celebrities of the year.

To determine the final rankings researchers processed 3.62 bn pieces of online data. The final index was calculated using a diverse range of metrics including media presence, social engagement, positivity, negativity, overall activity, community interaction and a specialised AI index.

Byeon Woo-seok managed to outperform several established household...

Commuters across northeastern Japan faced a sudden disruption on Thursday morning when a severe offshore earthquake shook the region.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) recorded the seismic event at a depth of 50 kilometres off the eastern coast of the Iwate prefecture. Initially measured at 6.9 the agency later revised the severity to an imposing 7.2 magnitude. Conversely the United States Geological Survey maintained its own independent assessment at 6.9.

Despite the terrifying intensity of the tremor which sent moderate shockwaves all the way to the capital city of Tokyo officials quickly dispelled any fears of a tsunami. Top...

The consultants tasked with guiding the highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) of Uzbekistan Airways will be chosen through a rigorously structured selection process. The press service of the Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF) recently confirmed the details of this procedure in a statement to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

Candidates vying for the advisory role will be evaluated against a strict set of criteria. The fund will actively assess their previous industry experience, historical track record, the overall quality of their technical proposals and their proposed fee structures.

UzNIF highlighted that the groundwork for the airline’s market debut is being supported by...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has refuted recent reports suggesting the country is in negotiations with the European Union to establish return centres for migrants who have been denied asylum. The ministry’s press service confirmed the official stance directly to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The denial comes in response to a June 24 article by Politico which claimed that the EU is considering the creation of migrant return hubs in Rwanda and Uzbekistan. According to the publication the initiative is backed by several EU member states including Germany and Denmark with the first centres allegedly scheduled to open next...

K-pop group Seventeen reached a milestone as Jeonghan completed his mandatory military service on Thursday. The singer is the first of the 13 members to finish his national duties.

Having enlisted on September 26, 2024 Jeonghan spent his conscription period working as a social service agent. His return marks the beginning of a transitional phase for the group as they navigate a schedule of overlapping military absences.

While fans celebrate his return several of his bandmates are still fulfilling their own military obligations. Wonwoo is currently serving as a social service agent while Hoshi and Woozi are stationed as...

Venezuela has been left reeling after two powerful earthquakes struck the country within moments of each other, triggering widespread destruction, casualties and a large-scale emergency response.

According to preliminary government figures, at least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured following the seismic disaster, which caused numerous buildings to collapse in Caracas and neighbouring areas. Authorities warned that the number of victims is expected to rise as rescue teams continue searching through the debris.

The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck less than a minute apart on Wednesday. The epicentre was located roughly 160 kilometres...

Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva announced her divorce from her businessman husband Timur Tillyaev. Sharing the personal update with her followers on Instagram she posted a photograph of herself in a lift holding a large bouquet of flowers to mark the beginning of a new chapter.

Channelling pop star Miley Cyrus in her caption the former diplomat embraced her newly single status with a positive outlook:

“Buying myself flowers. Choosing myself. Officially divorced. Happily so. I took Miley’s advice and bought myself flowers. Looking forward to growth, freedom and a life that feels beautifully mine.”

South Africa have qualified for the World Cup knockout stage after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in the final round of the group stage. The narrow win catapulted Bafana Bafana into second place in the group standings, sealing their progression to the tournament’s play-offs.

The first half was a cagey affair with South Korea controlling the tempo and enjoying the lion’s share of possession. However, they struggled to breach a disciplined South African backline and failed to create any genuine threats to worry goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. South Africa opted to play on the counter-attack, patiently waiting for their...

The European Union is exploring the possibility of establishing migration return hubs in several non-EU countries, including Uzbekistan, as part of efforts to accelerate the deportation of rejected asylum seekers.

According to reports, the European Commission is considering agreements with countries such as Uzbekistan, Rwanda and Uganda to host migrants who have exhausted legal avenues to remain in the EU. The proposal is part of a broader strategy to address irregular migration and improve the bloc’s return rates.

Supporters argue that return hubs could help ease pressure on European asylum systems and deter illegal migration. However, the idea has sparked...

Allied Biofuels has signed a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract with China’s Sinopec Engineering Group for a major sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and e-SAF project in Uzbekistan valued at approximately $6.1 bn.

The agreement includes a provision to roll over into a full Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract once the FEED phase is completed, marking a significant step toward the project’s development.

The planned facility is expected to produce both SAF and synthetic e-SAF, supporting global efforts to decarbonise the aviation sector. The project aligns with Uzbekistan’s ambitions to expand its renewable energy and green industrial capacity...

A light earthquake was reported near Namangan in eastern Uzbekistan on June 24, according to seismic monitoring services. Residents in parts of the Namangan region reported feeling mild tremors, though no injuries or damage were immediately reported.

Data published by earthquake monitoring platforms indicated that the tremor was relatively weak and was felt by a limited number of people in the area. The earthquake follows several minor seismic events recorded near Namangan and the wider Fergana Valley region in recent weeks.

Uzbekistan is located in a seismically active zone and regularly experiences low- to moderate-magnitude earthquakes, particularly in...

A British CrossFit coach has admitted causing the death of a man by dangerous driving after running him over while he lay in the road, a court has heard.

Megan Murphy, 26, pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court over the death of 31-year-old Darryl Tomlinson, who was struck by her car in Wigan in January 2025. Prosecutors said Murphy drove over Tomlinson multiple times after setting off with a heavily iced windscreen that severely restricted her visibility.

According to the court, Tomlinson had fallen in the road after a night out and was lying unresponsive when Murphy drove...

Britain, France and Germany have issued a rare joint warning over Chinese maritime activity near Taiwan, saying recent operations east of the island risk undermining regional stability and freedom of navigation.

The statement came after China sent coast guard vessels into waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast for what Beijing described as a maritime law-enforcement and survey operation. Taiwan rejected China’s claims and accused Chinese vessels of harassing commercial ships.

In a joint statement from their representative offices in Taipei, the three European powers said they were concerned by “novel Chinese activity” and opposed any attempt to change the...

France has confirmed its first Ebola case linked to the current outbreak in Central Africa after a doctor returning from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) tested positive for the virus.

French health authorities said the doctor was immediately isolated upon arrival and transferred to a specialised medical facility, where the patient remains in stable condition. Officials have launched contact tracing efforts, with anyone identified as a close contact required to isolate for 21 days.

The case is linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has infected more than...

Rockstar Games has officially announced that pre-orders for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) will open at midnight local time on June 25. The acclaimed studio also confirmed that the next instalment in the blockbuster franchise will launch globally on November 19, 2026 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

With the release date firmly set the gaming community is bracing for what is widely expected to be the biggest entertainment launch of the decade. As of now Rockstar has yet to announce a PC version leaving keyboard and mouse players waiting for...

Russian tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva has suffered a premature exit from the WTA 500 grass-court tournament in Bad Homburg following a straight-sets defeat to her compatriot Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Thanks to her high seeding the world number five was granted a bye into the second round of the German competition. However she struggled to find her rhythm on the grass against an inspired opponent. Alexandrova, currently ranked 19th in the WTA standings, delivered a clinical performance to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory in a match that lasted just one hour and 28 minutes.

2025 🤝 2026 quarterfinalist

Ekaterina...

The newly established agency of former NCT star Mark Lee has issued a formal apology after the K-pop idol faced severe backlash for wearing a T-shirt prominently displaying the United States Confederate flag.

The controversy erupted when photographs circulated on social media showing the 26-year-old singer wearing the garment. The Confederate flag is globally recognised by anti-hate organisations as a symbol of white supremacy, racial discrimination and the historical defence of slavery.

In a statement posted to its Instagram Stories his label Upper Room attempted to clarify the situation. The company claimed the piece was selected...

India’s rising cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be required to use a separate changing room during the upcoming T20 series in England due to safeguarding regulations for under-16 players.

The 15-year-old batter, who is expected to become India’s youngest international cricketer, has been included in the squad for matches against Ireland and England following a breakthrough IPL season. However, rules enforced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prohibit minors from using adult changing facilities.

Under the arrangements, Sooryavanshi will be allowed to attend team meetings and stay in the Indian...

The total number of registered motor vehicles owned by citizens in Uzbekistan breached the 4.9 mln mark as of April 1, 2026. Data published by the State Statistics Agency reveals that the national fleet grew by 344,600 units over the preceding 12 months.

Passenger cars continue to dominate personal transport across the republic, accounting for 4.5 mln units and making up 92.8% of the country’s total registered transport network. The remaining portion of the national registry consists of commercial, public transport and industrial assets. This includes 330,300 commercial trucks, 7,500 minibuses, 7,200 pieces of specialist machinery and 5,800 buses currently...