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Uzbekistan ranked seventh globally for tourism growth in January–September 2025, according to the World Tourism Barometer, the country’s Tourism Committee reports. The number of foreign visitors was 73% higher than in 2019.

The result also placed Uzbekistan second in Europe for the pace of tourism recovery and among the top four destinations in the region for year-on-year growth compared with 2024, up 13%.

The country set new domestic records this year. More than 10.7 mln foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in the first 11 months of 2025, while from April monthly arrivals consistently exceeded one mln for the first time...

Max Verstappen has confirmed he will race under a new driver number in the 2026 Formula One season following the end of his championship reign.

The Red Bull driver has used the number one for the past four seasons as world champion. However, he is no longer eligible to keep it after Lando Norris secured the title earlier this month. While the champion is not required to use number one, Norris has already said he will adopt it next year.

Verstappen previously raced with number 33 from 2015 to 2021 but will not return to it. Instead, he...

A British travel influencer has alleged that she and her friend were sexually harassed during a Post Malone concert in the northeastern Indian city of Guwahati, prompting police to say they are reviewing the incident.

The influencer, Emma, who is based in Bangkok and has more than 76,000 Instagram followers, said she and another travel blogger were «touched without consent» shortly after entering the crowd at the concert, which was attended by more than 20,000 people. In a video posted on social media, she claimed the pair left the packed area within minutes because they no longer felt...

James Cameron has become only the fifth film director to reach billionaire status, with an estimated net worth of $1.1 bn, according to Forbes, just days before the release of his next film, Avatar: Fire And Ash.

The 71-year-old joins an elite group of filmmakers that includes George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Tyler Perry. Forbes notes that Cameron is unique among them for earning the bulk of his fortune directly from box-office revenues rather than studios or franchises.

Cameron’s films, including The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic and the Avatar series — have collectively generated nearly $9 bn...

Meta is preparing to significantly cut back its spending on the metaverse after years of heavy investment and limited returns, according to media reports. Company insiders told Bloomberg that CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to reduce the metaverse budget by around 30% next year, redirecting resources toward artificial-intelligence wearables and related technologies.

The move marks a sharp retreat from Zuckerberg’s once-bold vision of virtual worlds populated by millions of users wearing headsets, an idea that drove Facebook’s rebrand to Meta and cost the company an estimated $70 bn over four years. As user interest faded and revenues failed to...

Audi’s new electric E5 Sportback has won enthusiastic reviews from German car enthusiasts for its design, build quality and low price, but the model is made in China and is not available in Germany.

The E5 Sportback is part of a growing range of Audi vehicles developed and produced in China under the company’s «In China, for China» strategy, in partnership with Chinese automaker SAIC. Priced at around €40,000 (£35,000) in China, it costs roughly half as much as comparable Audi electric models sold in Germany.

Interest surged after a YouTube review by German performance car channel JP...

Uzbekistan marked 2025 as a landmark year in its transition towards green energy, building on a decade of policy reforms and international partnerships. The country’s energy strategy combines rapid infrastructure expansion, renewable energy projects, and state-backed incentives for energy efficiency, positioning Uzbekistan as a regional leader in sustainable development.

By the end of 2025, Uzbekistan had increased its installed electricity capacity to 28,570 MW, up from 24,063 MW at the start of the year. Solar and wind power have become central to the country’s energy mix, with 13 solar and five wind power plants producing almost 4.7 GW...

Gwyneth Paltrow made a rare red-carpet appearance with both of her adult children as she attended the New York City premiere of her new film Marty Supreme. The actress was joined by her daughter Apple Martin, 21, and son Moses Martin, 19, whom she shares with her former husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

Paltrow and Martin, who famously announced their split in 2014 as a «conscious uncoupling», have remained close co-parents, and their children appeared relaxed and happy as they posed alongside their mother. The trio shared smiles and conversation on the red carpet, highlighting their close family...

Jared Kushner has withdrawn from the high-profile bid battle to acquire Warner Brosers. Discovery, dealing a blow to Paramount’s hostile takeover attempt of the media giant. Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, said on Tuesday it would no longer support Paramount’s roughly $108bn offer, which is competing with an agreed $83bn bid from Netflix.

A spokesperson for Affinity said the firm had stepped back due to changing investment dynamics, though it still believes Paramount’s proposal has strong strategic merit. Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, had been viewed as a key figure in helping Paramount line up crucial...

Australian authorities have charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 criminal offences, including 15 counts of murder, following the Bondi Beach terror attack that killed 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration. The mass shooting, described as one of the deadliest attacks on Australia’s Jewish community, also left at least 21 people injured.

The attack took place at Archer Park near Bondi Beach, where more than 1,000 people had gathered for a Jewish festival. Police say Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, opened fire on the crowd. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed...

Shares of MetaX Integrated Circuits leapt around 700% on their first day of trading in Shanghai on Wednesday, as investors rushed to gain exposure to China’s drive to reduce dependence on US AI chip giants Nvidia and AMD.

Founded by former AMD executive Chen Weiliang, MetaX raised about $600 mln in its initial public offering last week. The listing followed the strong debut of rival Moore Threads, whose shares jumped about 400% earlier this month. MetaX stock opened at 700 yuan, compared with an IPO price of 104.66 yuan, and climbed as high as 895 yuan in early trading...

South African DJ Warrick Stock, known as DJ Warras, was shot dead in Johannesburg on Tuesday, deepening concerns over crime in the country.

Police said the 40-year-old was approached by three suspects, one of whom opened fire before fleeing on foot. Stock was attacked near Zambesi House after supervising security installations. He tried to escape but collapsed, carrying an unused firearm and losing nothing to the attackers. No arrests have been made.

Stock’s sister, Nicole, described the family as «shattered» and urged the public not to share graphic images or videos.

A prominent radio and TV presenter, podcaster, and...

Uzbekistan will start supplying its products to the US wholesale chain Costco Wholesale. The announcement followed talks between a delegation from Uzbek company BMB Holding and Costco’s head of sales, Ed Martin, in the United States, according to Dunyo.

The agreement covers deliveries of agricultural and processed products, including fruits, vegetables and saffron. Product samples have already been provided to Costco for marketing purposes.

Costco, founded in 1983 in the United States, operates as a membership-based wholesale retailer. Customers pay an annual fee to access a range of carefully selected products at low prices. The company is known for...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved a decree lowering customs duties on imported branded goods. Coffee imports will now face a 0% duty, down from 10%.

Other products affected include household candles at 10%, plastic and wooden tableware at 10%, carpets and flooring at 10%, blankets and throws at 5%, and home textiles at 5–10%. Porcelain and ceramic tableware will carry a 10% duty, as will glassware and decorative items, and metal kitchen utensils and cutlery. Previous duties on these goods ranged from 15 to 20%.

The aim of the changes is to increase investor interest in international cooperation...

Since the beginning of 2025, Uzbekistan has shipped 633 containers to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Switzerland and other European countries, according to O’ztemiryo’lkonteyner.

Of these, 380 containers were dispatched from Sergeli station, 228 from Nazarbek, and 25 from Asaka. Shipments to Europe are sent via the port of Turkmenbashi. Eighteen container trains carried mineral fertilisers, potash, urea, aluminium and copper to European destinations.

O’ztemiryo’lkonteyner noted that these shipments are part of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s directive to accelerate the transformation of Uzbekistan’s railway network.

English football club Manchester City has published an Instagram post directed at its audience in Uzbekistan. The club hinted at an upcoming announcement regarding a new partnership.

«Uzbekistan… are you ready? A new trusted partner is on the way. #KattaQadamlshonchliZarba,» the post read, in both English and Uzbek.

The image features players Husanov, Haaland and Foden, along with the date December 19, 2025, suggesting this may be the day of the official announcement. Details of the partnership have not been disclosed. The club did not specify the format or content of the upcoming event...

The project company «China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan» has signed an agreement with Chinese banks to finance the construction of a new railway. The total cost of the project is $4.7 bn.

Half of the funding, approximately $2.3 bn, will be provided by the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank. The loan is issued for 35 years and will be repaid by the project company itself, jointly established by China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

The remaining $2.3 bn will be contributed by the three countries as the company’s authorised capital. China will hold a 51% share, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will each hold...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed that Tashkent be placed among the 300 most environmentally friendly cities in the world. Currently, the capital ranks 471st out of 1,000 cities globally.

To achieve this, artificial lakes and reservoirs will be built in four districts. By June 1, each district will open three pedestrian streets, each 5 km long. New parks will also be created, with one park for every ten mahallas.

In 2026, 18.5 km of city canal banks will be reinforced. Green zones and walking areas will be added along them.

Along 16 km of the Chirchik River in...

The year 2026 in Tashkent has been declared the «Year of Accelerated Development and Income Growth» by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A major city development programme will be implemented next year, with plans to attract $9 bn in foreign direct investment and $20 bn over two years.

New industrial and logistics projects are planned in the Sergeli, Yangihayot and Bektemir districts. In Sergeli, a $70 mln agro-logistics complex is under construction. In Yangihayot and Bektemir, projects worth $3 bn will be launched in textiles, automotive and other industries. Other areas of the city will receive investment in services, tourism, the...

On December 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on developing Uzbekistan’s capital market. Participants discussed dual listing, currency bonds on the Tashkent Stock Exchange, a regulatory sandbox for residents and simplified conditions for foreign investors. The goal is to attract $1 bn into the country’s economy.

Market Exists but Liquidity Is Limited

The capital market’s share of the economy remains small, at around 20% of GDP. The total value of issued securities is 275 trln soums ($22.73 bn), but only 4 trln soums ($330 mln) are actively traded on the exchange. There is significant potential for growth.

Inflation in Uzbekistan is driven almost equally by demand and supply factors. According to the Central Bank, demand accounts for 49% of price growth, while supply explains 51%. At the same time, the dominant drivers have changed from year to year, ranging from the pandemic to tariff increases.

During the pandemic, inflation was mainly driven by supply-side factors. Disruptions to supply chains and production stoppages pushed food prices higher. The sharpest increases were recorded for grain, flour, meat and dairy products.

After restrictions were lifted, consumer spending increased. Government expenditure and household incomes also rose. As a result, inflation...

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 mln loan and a $5 mln grant for Uzbekistan. The funding will support the Access to Finance for Jobs and Growth Project, known as FINGROW. The programme aims to expand access to credit and private equity for micro, small and medium enterprises.

MSMEs account for more than 90% of businesses in Uzbekistan. They employ around 75% of the workforce and generate about 55% of GDP. Despite recent growth in lending, many firms still struggle to access capital. This limits business expansion, economic contribution and job creation.

Gaps...

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie has spoken publicly for the first time about revealing the scars from her preventative double mastectomy, 15 years after undergoing the life-saving procedure.

In a new interview with TIME France, the 50-year-old said she chose to share her scars to stand in solidarity with other women and to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. «I share these scars with many women I love,» Jolie said, adding that access to information and screening is essential for informed healthcare choices.

Jolie underwent the surgery in 2013 after learning she carries a BRCA1 gene mutation, which gave...

Former colleagues of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai have reacted with dismay to his national security conviction, warning that Lai and other former Apple Daily staff could face lengthy prison sentences while saying he remains a source of inspiration.

Lai was found guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and of sedition, more than four years after police raided the newsroom of Apple Daily, the outspoken pro-democracy newspaper he founded. The crackdown led to the paper’s closure and marked a turning point for Hong Kong’s media landscape.

«Although the verdict was...