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Azerbaijan’s participation in the Consultative Meeting Platform of Central Asian Leaders marks a new chapter in regional cooperation, a Turkmen expert said at an international conference in Baku.

Speaking at the C6: One Region, Shared Future – Enhancing Strategic Dialogue forum, Shiri Shiriyev, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Turkmenistan’s Institute of International Relations, described Azerbaijan’s accession as a step toward deeper integration across the Caspian region.

He said the C6 format is evolving beyond a dialogue platform into a mechanism for developing joint responses to global instability, strengthening economic ties, and expanding humanitarian and expert...

The number of Uzbek tourists visiting Egypt rose sharply in 2025, with the country emerging as one of the most popular foreign destinations for travellers from Uzbekistan, according to regional tourism reports.

Egypt’s iconic landmarks, including the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and historical sites in Cairo and Luxor, remain key attractions. At the same time, Red Sea resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are gaining popularity among Uzbek visitors seeking beach holidays and water sports.

Industry experts attribute the surge to expanded flight connectivity, including more direct routes by Uzbekistan Airways and EgyptAir, as well...

The holy month of Ramadan has begun in Saudi Arabia, several Gulf nations, and Afghanistan, with Muslims observing their first fast on Wednesday.

Thousands gathered at Islam’s holiest sites, including Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, for the first Taraweeh prayers, marking the start of the sacred month with worship and reflection.

A number of countries, including Iraq, Oman, Turkiye, Indonesia and Malaysia, are set to begin fasting on Thursday. In Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are also expected to mark the first day of Ramadan on Thursday, alongside countries such as Bangladesh...

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has rejected claims that she and former President Bill Clinton are tied to files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while accusing the Trump administration of orchestrating a cover-up.

Speaking publicly amid renewed scrutiny over the Epstein documents, Clinton said neither she nor her husband had any links to Epstein’s crimes and insisted they had been transparent about their knowledge of the case.

She also alleged that the administration was withholding or slowing the release of Epstein-related files, calling for full transparency and the publication of unredacted documents.

The comments...

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan plan to increase rail freight volumes between the two countries to up to 60 mln tons, following talks between their transport ministers, Qazinform News Agency reported.

The sides emphasised the strategic role of rail links in strengthening trade ties, expanding transit potential, and deepening regional transport integration, noting significant room for further growth and logistics efficiency.

Rail freight between the two countries reached 32.3 mln tons last year, marking a 16% increase compared to 2024.

The countries agreed on a joint action plan to upgrade infrastructure at key junctions, including Saryagash, Oasis, and Syrdarya, complete...

Uzbekistan has begun developing its first 6U national scientific satellite, named Mirzo Ulugbek, with a planned launch in 2028, Qazinform News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Authorities are forming an engineering corps and training specialists for the project, while parallel preparations are underway to send the country’s first national astronaut on a 10–14 day mission.

Proposed research during the mission includes medical and biological experiments such as remote diagnostics and testing local medicinal extracts. Scientists also plan to study plant genetics, focusing on drought- and salt-resistant crops, as well as model closed agro-biosystems and test heat-absorbing and dissipating materials.

A second round of indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran concluded in Geneva on Tuesday after more than five hours of negotiations, with no agreement reached, according to international and Iranian media reports.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters that Tehran is willing to remain in Geneva «for days or even weeks» to secure a final deal, emphasizing that full sanctions relief remains Iran’s top priority.

«Iran is negotiating seriously and in good faith,» Baqaei said, expressing hope that Washington would demonstrate a similar commitment.

The Oman-mediated talks...

Jesse Jackson, the US civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84, his family has announced.

A Baptist minister and longtime activist, Jackson rose to prominence during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr and taking part in major campaigns including the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson became a key figure in the fight against racial segregation and inequality. King later appointed him to roles within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where he led initiatives aimed at improving...

The National Ballet of Uzbekistan is set to present Lazgi. Dance of Soul and Love at the Großes Festspielhaus in Salzburg, bringing a centuries-old Uzbek dance tradition to one of Europe’s leading cultural venues.

Originating in western Uzbekistan, Lazgi has evolved from a regional ritual dance into one of the country’s most recognisable cultural symbols. Known for its sharp rhythm, expressive gestures and emotional intensity, the dance is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Organisers describe the Salzburg staging as a major moment of cultural diplomacy, positioning the production as a bridge...

A viral video circulating online claims actor Mark Ruffalo launched a late-night livestream after receiving an alleged threat, though the incident remains unverified.

According to posts widely shared on TikTok and other platforms, Ruffalo went live around 3:07am local time, speaking about pressure faced by public figures when commenting on issues outside their professional fields. The claims are based largely on user-generated content, and neither Ruffalo nor his representatives have confirmed the livestream or any threat.

One viral post alleges Ruffalo received a message at 1:44am from a verified account tied to an influential figure. The purported message...

Australia’s prime minister has ruled out repatriating women and children from a Syrian camp housing people with alleged ties to Islamic State, after a failed attempt to bring dozens of nationals home.

Around 34 women and children from 11 families were expected to leave Al Roj camp on Monday and travel via Damascus to Australia. However, Syrian officials halted the process, saying departure procedures were incomplete, and the group was returned to the camp.

Speaking to ABC News, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would not assist their return.

«We have a very...

Hollywood is mourning the death of legendary actor Robert Duvall, who has died at the age of 95.

Duvall passed away Sunday at his Virginia ranch, according to a statement shared by his wife, Luciana. She said the Apocalypse Now and The Godfather star died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones.

«To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,» she wrote, paying tribute to his life and career.

The news sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow actors. Walton...

The majority of U.S. Department of Justice files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein remain unpublished despite recent disclosures, according to a new report by the UK’s Channel 4 News.

Journalists who reviewed internal communications said federal investigators had previously estimated the total volume of material seized from Epstein’s properties at between 20 and 50 terabytes. As recently as 2025, officials reportedly referenced about 14.6 terabytes of archived data still under review.

So far, around 3.5 mln files, roughly 300 gigabytes, have been released, amounting to about 2% of the data investigators discussed last year, the broadcaster...

At the start of 2026 Kazakhstan’s information space faced another attack on the Freedom Holding business group and its founder Timur Turlov. Monitoring logged 3,200 items of disinformation in less than two months. In 2025 the number of such «stories» exceeded 72,000.

If we treat this case as a cross section of the media market we see the full scale of an organised negativity industry. Kursiv analysed a dataset of «black PR», reviewed information that Freedom Holding Corp. provided for January and part of February 2026 and spoke with experts to understand who creates an «information tornado» in Kazakhstan, how...

Banks across Central Asia and the Caucasus are expected to remain resilient in 2026, supported by strong profitability, solid capital buffers and continued economic growth, according to a new report by S&P Global Ratings.

The agency forecasts regional lending growth of around 15%–20%, driven largely by retail demand, while asset quality is expected to remain broadly stable amid a supportive macroeconomic environment.

S&P said favourable economic prospects, stable funding bases and sound liquidity metrics could lead to further positive rating actions, with most banks already holding stable outlooks and some carrying positive outlooks.

However, the report highlights several risks, including...

A former UK business secretary has called for an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as a government trade envoy following allegations he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Vince Cable said the claims, based on documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, were «totally unacceptable» and urged authorities to examine whether any criminal wrongdoing occurred. He called for both a police assessment and a government inquiry into how the situation was handled.

Emails included in the so-called Epstein files reportedly show Mountbatten-Windsor, who served as UK trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, sharing reports from official...

Izzy Hammond, the daughter of TV presenter Richard Hammond, escaped injury after a high-speed crash during a Formula E influencer event in Saudi Arabia.

The 25-year-old lost control of her car at turn 13 of a modified Jeddah Corniche Circuit layout, slamming head-on into a concrete barrier. She later revealed the impact measured 24G but said she was cleared by medical staff shortly afterwards.

Speaking after the incident, Hammond said her main concern was reassuring her father, the former Top Gear host, that she was safe. She attributed the crash to cold tyres, explaining that the car lost...

Lewis Hamilton made a strong impression during the first week of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Ferrari posting competitive lap times and showing solid reliability ahead of the 2026 campaign.

While Ferrari were not widely viewed as the outright fastest team, analysts believe the Italian outfit may still have untapped performance, potentially positioning Hamilton as an early title contender. Technical experts suggest the team could even emerge as favourites when the season begins.

Elsewhere in the paddock, Mercedes sparked debate after George Russell warned the team may have taken a step backwards since earlier tests. However...

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews staged a protest near west Jerusalem on Monday against mandatory military conscription, amid ongoing tensions over the issue.

Videos shared on Israeli social media showed Haredi demonstrators blocking Route 38 near Beit Shemesh. Police said officers moved in to disperse the protesters and reopen the road after traffic was disrupted.

Authorities said demonstrators set up roadblocks and stood in the roadway, preventing vehicles from passing. The incident comes as friction between police and Haredi communities has intensified in recent months.

The protests follow a 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling that ended long-standing exemptions for...

ByteDance has said it will introduce stronger safeguards on its AI video generator Seedance 2.0 following legal threats and criticism from major Hollywood studios.

The Chinese tech company, which owns TikTok, launched the tool last week, allowing users to create realistic videos using short text prompts. The release sparked concern in the film industry as users generated clips featuring well-known actors and characters.

According to reports, Walt Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing ByteDance of using a «pirated library» of intellectual property, including characters from Marvel and Star Wars. Other studios and industry groups have also alleged copyright...

More than 70 migrants who crossed the English Channel in small boats have received compensation after a High Court ruling found the Home Office acted unlawfully by confiscating mobile phones on arrival in the UK.

The policy, introduced in 2020 during a surge in crossings, allowed authorities to seize phones and SIM cards from asylum seekers, with data in some cases fully downloaded. Judges later ruled the approach breached the European Convention on Human Rights, citing unlawful blanket seizures and interference with privacy rights.

So far, 32 asylum seekers have received payouts totalling £210,800, with 41 additional cases...

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has said Poland should explore developing nuclear weapons as part of its long-term security strategy, citing growing threats from Russia.

In an interview with Polsat television, Nawrocki said he supported Poland «joining the nuclear project» in a way that complies with international regulations. He argued the country’s proximity to the war in Ukraine and Moscow’s «aggressive, imperial attitude» make stronger deterrence necessary.

The remarks come amid broader debate in Europe about strengthening nuclear capabilities as relations with the United States, the continent’s main nuclear guarantor, grow more uncertain.

Several European leaders have recently discussed...

Officials from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have agreed to deepen cooperation between research institutions as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.

Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan, met in Kabul with Abdul Hai Qanit, Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The talks focused on joint initiatives to advance strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to a post by Vakhabov on X, the sides discussed ways to improve public awareness of political and regional developments through closer collaboration between analytical centres. The goal is to enhance mutual understanding...

Uzbekistan and Russia are moving to deepen industrial ties and expand the supply of Russian products to the Uzbek market following a series of business and government negotiations in Tashkent.

The talks, held at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, brought together representatives of 10 leading Russian companies alongside Uzbek officials and industry stakeholders. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral industrial cooperation and exploring new investment opportunities.

Both sides examined prospects for localising production in Uzbekistan and launching joint manufacturing projects. The Russian delegation presented proposals covering mining, construction materials, furniture production and related industrial sectors.

Targeted meetings...