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Uzbekistan and India aim to increase bilateral trade fivefold to $5bn by 2030, setting an ambitious target as President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seek to deepen economic and strategic ties.

The goal was announced during talks between the two leaders in Tashkent, where they discussed expanding cooperation across sectors ranging from energy and critical minerals to pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

Trade between Uzbekistan and India exceeded $1bn in 2025. By August 1 this year, turnover had passed $690mn, underlining the faster pace of commercial exchanges between the two countries.

The sides identified energy, electrical...

Punjabi social media influencer Manjeet Kaur was about seven weeks pregnant when she died from severe burn injuries after an alleged abduction and attack in Punjab, according to her autopsy report.

Kaur, 28, died at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh on August 26, about 54 days after she was allegedly abducted from the city and taken to a forested area near Morinda.

According to police and reports cited by Indian media, Kaur was allegedly assaulted, tied to a tree and set on fire. She suffered extensive burns and remained in hospital for nearly two...

Huawei is preparing to take its HarmonyOS operating system into international markets, potentially giving users a new alternative to Android and iOS.

The company plans to begin pilot programmes in selected countries and regions, with broader overseas expansion dependent on the results, Huawei rotating chairman Xu Zhijun said at the HarmonyOS Ecosystem Conference 2026 in Shenzhen.

The August 28-29 conference marked a shift in Huawei’s approach to its operating system, which has largely been developed around the Chinese market since the company lost access to Google‘s mobile services following US restrictions.

Xu said Huawei would first test HarmonyOS in...

One person has been killed and five others injured after shots were fired near a horse racing track in northern Switzerland, police said Sunday.

The shooting happened overnight in Schachen, a district of Aarau located about 46 kilometres west of Zurich, according to Aargau Cantonal Police.

Police said the suspect remained at large and a manhunt was under way. Investigators had not established a motive or determined the precise circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The area around the racecourse, a nearby swimming pool and sports field was sealed off as officers searched for evidence and the suspected attacker. Police urged...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tashkent on August 29 for a two-day state visit focused on expanding strategic and economic ties with Uzbekistan.

Modi was welcomed at the airport by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev before the two leaders visited the New Uzbekistan Monument, where they laid a wreath.

“The Yangi Uzbekistan Monument reflects the aspirations and progress of the Uzbek people. Glad to begin my visit by coming here,” the PM shared on X.

Upon landing in Tashkent, went to lay a wreath at the Yangi Uzbekistan Monument with President Mirziyoyev.

The Yangi Uzbekistan...

Uzbekistan has publicly displayed Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter jets for the first time at the celebration of Independence Day on August 28.

The aircraft appeared on a large video screen during celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, Kursiv Uzbekistan correspondent noticed. The display showed Chengdu J-10 fighters as part of a presentation of the country’s military capabilities.

The appearance comes after months of reports that Uzbekistan has agreed to acquire more than 20 Chinese-built fighters. Neither the Uzbek nor Chinese authorities have publicly confirmed the reported purchase details, meaning the number of aircraft and delivery schedule...

Samsung‘s latest One UI 9 beta has triggered complaints from Galaxy S26 Ultra users over performance issues, adding pressure on the company to resolve glitches before the Android 17-based software reaches a wider range of devices.

The seventh beta build has been criticised for introducing micro-stutters that some testers say were absent from the previous version. Tarun Vats, a Samsung software insider, said Beta 6 had been the smoothest version he had used on his Galaxy S26 Ultra, while Beta 7 introduced problems when typing, switching between the Quick Settings and notification panels and navigating interface animations.

Stray Kids member Lee Know has donated 100mn won ($71,000) to support people affected by the devastating floods in Nepal, with the money set to fund emergency relief and recovery efforts.

Lee Know made the donation to World Vision on August 28, asking the international humanitarian organisation to use the funds for children and families affected by the disaster. The money will support food and nutritional assistance, temporary housing, clean water and sanitation as well as wider efforts to help affected communities rebuild their lives.

Through his agency JYP Entertainment, Lee Know said he hoped his contribution would...

FlyOne Asia is set to launch twice-weekly flights between Tashkent and Delhi on 6 November. The young airline becomes the third Uzbekistan-based carrier to serve the Indian capital this winter after Uzbekistan Airways and Centrum Air.

The route was first visible in the reservation system of FlyOne Asia and reported by AeroRoutes on 28 August. FlyOne Asia had not issued a separate announcement in its newsroom at the time of writing.

Flights will be carried out on Mondays and Fridays. Flight 7Q1421 would depart Tashkent at 16:20 and arrive at Delhi at 19:35. The return service...

The governments of Uzbekistan and Singapore have said they want to pursue a free-trade agreement but have yet to give a timetable. Talks extend to broader investment with deals on food production and economic zones.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has met the Uzbek minister of investment, industry and trade, Laziz Kudratov, during his first visit to Uzbekistan on Friday. The officials have signed an array of documents, including one setting out Tashkent’s and Singapore’s intention to work towards a free-trade agreement.

Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said the countries were developing the framework for a modern agreement...

Foreign nationals convicted of overstaying, illegal work, document fraud or serious crimes could now face faster deportation from Thailand. The change came after officials adopted a stricter approach to unlawful behaviour by tourists.

The procedure took effect on 28 August, one day after its publication in Thailand’s Royal Gazette. It does not create new offences or make deportation automatic for poor manners, despite broader warnings directed at «problematic» tourists.

Instead, the regulation sets out how government agencies should handle removals under powers that already existed, according to an official Thai government summary.

The real change is that agencies now...

Apple may wait an extra day to open iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders following its 9 September presentation, avoiding the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the US. Orders will reportedly begin on Saturday, 12 September, although Apple is yet to confirm the change.

The company has officially scheduled its «Surprise and Shine» presentation for 10am Pacific Time on Wednesday, 9 September. It is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and its first foldable smartphone.

A source described as reliable told German technology publication Macwelt that Apple...

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk is returning to cinema with K.O. Club, a dystopian thriller he once teased would be «more violent» than his Netflix phenomenon, South Korean media report. Lee Byung-hun and Park Hae-soo will reunite with him for a near-future battle between wealthy elders who can buy youth and a generation locked out of opportunity.

Hwang will write and direct the film, his first feature since the 2017 historical drama The Fortress. Cameras are expected to roll in the first half of 2027, according to an announcement from production company Firstman Studio.

The...

Central Asians face a silent disaster that is unfolding underfoot: fields are crusting with salt, pastures are wearing bare and water is becoming harder to secure. Nearly 24 million people live on degraded land, while the damage costs the region up to $6bn every year, the UN has warned.

Well over 80 million hectares have already deteriorated across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, according to a new Global Land Outlook report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

That is an area almost four times the size of Kyrgyzstan.

Almost 30% of Central Asians now live on...

Uzbekistan marked 35 years of independence with a little help from London’s West End. A familiar voice from The Phantom of the Opera echoed across Tashkent as British soprano star Sarah Brightman joined the celebrations this Friday.

Brightman performed her timeless hit Time to Say Goodbye, the soaring duet she made famous with Andrea Bocelli, at the Independence Day concert in Uzbekistan. Under the Tashkent sky, her voice was just as magical as it had been at London’s Royal Albert Hall nearly three decades ago.

The song sold 12 million copies worldwide, her official biography says. She is also...

The latest figures from Nepal’s disaster agency bring the confirmed toll across the border region to 633. Almost 3,000 people remain unaccounted for, meaning the number of deaths could rise further as rescuers reach isolated communities, AP reported on Saturday.

The disaster began on 26 August, with powerful torrents sweeping through steep river valleys near Nepal’s border with China. Water, mud, ice and rock struck homes, roads, bridges, power facilities and the Gyirong border crossing.

Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that by Friday evening, rescuers had saved 4,451 survivors. They included 191 people brought out of a tunnel...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan plans to build a $300bn economy by 2030 and attract $450bn of foreign investment over the next decade. The plan links the country’s growth aspirations with technology, industrial jobs and a foreign policy increasingly driven by trade.

The targets appeared in Mirziyoyev’s speech marking 35 years of Uzbek independence on Friday.

Three years ago, the government expected Uzbekistan’s economy to reach $160bn only by 2030. Mirziyoyev said that level would now be achieved in 2026, allowing the government to set a much higher target.

The president pledged to raise gross domestic...

Microsoft has released a major preview update for Windows 11, introducing new controls for the Start menu and taskbar alongside a broad set of fixes and system improvements.

The optional update, KB5120998, is available for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. While preview updates are not installed automatically, many of their changes are expected to reach a wider audience through future monthly releases.

One of the most noticeable additions is a more flexible Start menu. Users can now select small or large layouts rather than relying solely on the existing automatic option. Microsoft has also renamed the «Recommended» section...

King Harald V, who died on Friday aged 89, occupied Norway’s throne for 35 years – but some of the most telling stories of his life took place far from it. Here are five moments that offer some insight into why he was Norway’s «people’s king» – from wartime exile to forbidden love and Olympic sailing.

The Royal Court of Norway said Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6.35am on 28 August. His son immediately succeeded him as King Haakon VIII.

Prince 567 years in the making

Harald was born at...

Russia has introduced its first pharmacies specifically adapted for Chinese customers in the Far East, with three facilities in the Amur region receiving the China Friendly certification as Moscow seeks to accommodate growing cross-border traffic.

The pharmacies, located in the region bordering China, have added Chinese-language signs, translated information materials and Chinese versions of drug categories. Staff can also use specialised software to translate between Chinese and Russian at the counter, according to Russia’s quality watchdog Roskachestvo.

Three pharmacies received the certification: Social Pharmacy and two branches operated by Tvoyaapteka.rf. Roskachestvo said the designation is intended to ensure that...

A passenger jet operated by Kazakhstan’s low-cost carrier FlyArystan caught fire during scheduled maintenance at Almaty International Airport on 28 August, injuring one ground staff member.

Air Astana Group, FlyArystan’s mother company, confirmed the incident, describing it as a workplace accident involving a «localised blaze.»

«During the [maintenance] works, a localised fire broke out and was promptly extinguished by the airport’s emergency services,» the company said.

The injured employee in question received medical attention and was later released from hospital, according to another statement quoted by Kazinform. Footage of the incident emerged on social...

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, stated that the escalation of armed conflicts and political confrontations around the world, which are now spilling over into neighbouring regions, causes serious concern. This reality necessitates that citizens value peace in their country, unite even more, and live harmoniously.

“Our path is that of peace, friendship and cooperation. Uzbekistan will never deviate from this path,” the president said.

Mirziyoyev made these remarks on Friday at the Shohidlar Xotirasi memorial complex (‘Memory of Martyrs’ in English) ahead of Uzbekistan’s 35th Independence Day. The gathering brought together government officials, senior clergy...

Over the course of eleven years, adults in the United States consistently linked heavier social media use to self-reported depression (SRD), with a statistically significant shift occurring at 150 minutes per day. 

Researchers examined 11 annual surveys conducted between 2014 and 2024, covering about 183,000 adults aged 18 to 70. Unlike studies focused on teenagers or total screen time, the paper published in Mental Health Research looked specifically at social media use.

In the researchers’ model, social media use began to push predictions of depression at around 150 minutes a day. The pattern appeared in...

For decades, researchers have identified hundreds of genes associated with autism spectrum disorder. However, a fundamental question has lingered: how do these genetic changes actually alter brain development?

A landmark study published in the journal Science has finally provided answers, mapping the complex protein interactions that drive the condition. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have created the largest molecular map of autism to date.

Their findings suggest that while the genetic causes of autism are incredibly diverse, they often converge to disrupt the exact same biological machinery.

By looking past the genes themselves and focusing...