News

President Donald Trump has unveiled a new programme offering fast-tracked US visas to wealthy foreigners willing to pay at least $1 mln (£750,000).

The so-called Trump Gold Card is designed to give buyers «a direct path to Citizenship for all qualified and vetted people. SO EXCITING! Our Great American Companies can finally keep their invaluable Talent,» Trump wrote on social media.

The scheme targets individuals who can demonstrate they will provide a «substantial benefit» to the United States, according to the official website. It promises US residency in «record time» for a $1 mln...

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is creating a platform to attract investors from Gulf countries to projects in Central Asia, according to the bank’s press service.

The initiative will target sectors such as logistics and water management, while agriculture and renewable energy are also expected to draw interest. Islamic finance is expanding in Central Asia, with the market projected to reach $6.3 bn by 2033.

To support this effort, EDB has opened a representative office in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial centre. The platform will offer investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ready-made investment solutions for Central...

Hamkorbank will receive a $70 mln loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan.

SMEs account for around half of the country’s GDP and provide jobs for roughly 80% of the population. Supporting this sector is a key priority for the EBRD. As of December 2025, the bank has invested more than $6.5 bn across 193 projects in Uzbekistan. According to the State Statistics Committee, by early November 2025, there were 395,700 active small and micro enterprises, down 1.6% compared with the previous year.

In the third quarter...

Tourists from dozens of countries, including the UK, could soon have to provide a five-year history of their social media activity before entering the United States. The proposal would affect travellers eligible for the 90-day visa-free Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) programme and comes as part of the Trump administration’s wider push to tighten border security.

President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House in January, stressed that the measures are intended to protect national security.

Asked whether the plan might reduce tourism, he said he was not concerned, adding, «We just want...

The European Union has allocated €7 mln to support Uzbekistan’s Agriculture Development Strategy for 2020–2030. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar during a meeting with Agriculture Minister Ibrohim Abdurahmonov.

This grant forms part of a broader EU support package for the country’s agricultural sector, which will total €20 mln. The EU previously provided €6 mln in 2023 and plans to release the remaining €7 mln in 2026, provided that reforms progress as agreed and key targets are met.

«To ensure strong investment, sustainability and a more competitive export sector, both...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that China will supply Uzbekistan with 50 agricultural drones next year. Speaking at a meeting with farmers, he said every region will open at least two mobile drone units to provide services to local producers.

The president added that the drones’ carrying capacity will rise from 100 kg to 250 kg as part of the sector’s modernisation.

«I am pleased to see more of our farmers and clusters adopting digital technologies and artificial intelligence in their operations and achieving high yields with low costs,» he said.

Mirziyoyev noted that...

A delegation from Uzbekistan has travelled to Denmark to study the country’s globally renowned digital public service system, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The delegation,led by Eldor Makhkamov, Head of the Public Services Department at the Ministry of Justice, held meetings with Danish officials from the Center for Digital Government, the Ministry of Digital Government, the national IT services agency, the Chamber of Commerce, the Health Authority, the State Archives and the Data Protection Agency.

Discussions focused on Denmark’s most successful digital governance practices, including full digitalization of documents and state services, outsourcing of select government...

Uzbekistan is accelerating its transition to a digital economy with sweeping new restrictions on cash payments and ambitious targets for cashless transactions, Trend reports via the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Under a presidential decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, cash payments for alcohol and tobacco products will be banned starting April 1, 2026. The measure is part of a broader national strategy titled «On Additional Measures to Promote Cashless Payments and Reduce the Share of the Shadow Economy.»

Cash payments will also be prohibited for:

The Uzbekistan International Forum Palace hosted the ceremonial opening of FIA General Assembly Week. Attendees included FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, senior officials from the Ministry of Sports and National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, the National Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and representatives from member federations of the FIA.

Sport Minister Adham Ikramov congratulated the guests on behalf of Uzbekistan and highlighted the country’s ongoing sports reforms. In turn, Ben Sulayem emphasised the event’s importance in the world of motorsport, noting it is the first time the General Assembly has been held in Central Asia. He also presented awards...

The British Ice Skating Federation has announced that starting from the 2026–27 season, same-sex duos will be allowed to compete in national ice dance events — making the UK the third country to introduce the rule after Canada and Finland.

The updated regulations were published on the federation’s official website.

However, such pairs will still be barred from international competitions under the International Skating Union (ISU), which continues to require that all ice dance and pairs teams consist of one man and one woman.

Canada was the first to approve same-sex duos in 2022, with Finland following this...

Iran is ready to deepen its partnership with Belarus across all sectors, Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Wednesday during a meeting in Tehran with Andrei Kuznetsov, Belarus’s minister of industry and head of the Belarusian delegation to the Joint Commission on Cooperation.

Aref emphasised that Iran and Belarus have complementary economies capable of meeting one another’s needs, adding that expanding cooperation is one of Tehran’s strategic priorities. He said the successful 18th meeting of the Joint Commission has created «a very good opportunity» to advance comprehensive ties.

The vice president also noted that the two countries...

Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air has signed a lease agreement with AerCap for two new Airbus A321neo aircraft, the airline announced.

The jets are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2027. AerCap Chief Commercial Officer Peter Anderson noted that Centrum Air is the company’s first Uzbek customer.

Centrum Holding Chairman and CEO Abdulaziz Abdurahmanov said the A321neo’s improved fuel efficiency and extended range will allow the airline to offer passengers greater comfort and open new international routes, strengthening Uzbekistan’s connectivity with key global markets.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan has taken a major step toward becoming Central Asia’s fintech hub...

Condor Energies Inc. of Canada will expand its oil and gas development in Uzbekistan after launching a brokered private placement of convertible debentures worth up to $10 mln, the company announced.

The new financing will accelerate Condor’s drilling program and support production growth across its project portfolio in Uzbekistan. Funds will be used to mobilise a second drilling rig for the company’s 12-well program planned for 2026, as well as to build in-field compression facilities aimed at boosting output and cash flow.

Condor plans to operate two drilling rigs throughout 2026, along with a dedicated workover...

Hyundai Rotem has shipped its first batch of high-speed trains to Uzbekistan, completing production earlier than planned, the company announced Wednesday.

A send-off ceremony was held in Changwon with officials from South Korea and Uzbekistan, including Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev. The shipment includes six high-speed trains, a total of 42 cars, designed specifically for Uzbekistan’s long-distance routes and harsh desert climate.

The trains are based on the EMU-260 model, which has been in commercial service since 2021. Once deployed, they will operate across a 1,286-kilometer network in Uzbekistan.

Hyundai Rotem won the contract from Uzbekistan Railways...

Former World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro says Uzbekistan’s national football team has the mentality and fighting spirit to surprise at the 2026 World Cup, describing Uzbek players as «tough, never give up» and difficult opponents for any team.

Speaking to The Guardian, Cannavaro, who was appointed head coach after Uzbekistan’s historic first-ever World Cup qualification, said he accepted the job because of the country’s ambitious football development and strong youth system.

Cannavaro and his staff spent 40 days in Uzbekistan watching league matches and visiting clubs.

«They appreciated that we watched one or two games...

Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho was dropped to the bench for the club’s Champions League clash against Atalanta after sparking backlash with remarks made in a pre-match press conference.

The 21-year-old angered Italian fans and media on Monday when he admitted he had not watched Atalanta «in over a year,» adding:

«The last time I saw Atalanta was two years ago, in the Europa League final they won.»

Italian outlets accused him of «snobbery,» and supporters blasted the comment online.

Garnacho began the match at the New Balance Arena among the substitutes, a decision...

Microsoft announced on Tuesday its largest-ever Asia investment, a $17.5 bn commitment to India over the next four years, aimed at accelerating the country’s cloud and artificial intelligence capabilities.

The announcement came after CEO Satya Nadella met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. In a post on X, Nadella said the investment would help India develop the «infrastructure, skills and sovereign capabilities» needed to shape its AI future.

The move underscores intensifying global competition among tech giants to deepen their footprint in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies. It follows Google’s October pledge to...

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee has approved Yandex Uzbekistan’s acquisition of the Allplay streaming service. The regulator agreed to the deal on the condition that Allplay keeps its independence and continues to operate as a standalone platform.

Allplay will continue to grow its offer with plans to expand its catalogue of films, series and music. The platform aims to increase both international and Uzbek content available to users.

In the future Allplay is expected to become part of the Yandex Plus subscription. This will give subscribers access to video, music, books, sports broadcasts and wider ecosystem bonuses such as cashback...

Centrum Air has agreed a lease deal for two new Airbus A321neo aircraft with AerCap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, according to the airline’s press service.

The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2027. AerCap’s chief commercial officer Peter Anderson noted that Centrum Air is the company’s first client from Uzbekistan.

Abdulaziz Abdurakhmanov, chairman and CEO of Centrum Holding, said the addition of the A321neo will support the airline’s international ambitions.

«The increased efficiency and extended range of the A321neo will allow us to offer passengers more comfort and new destinations...

Nicole Kidman’s reported separation from husband Keith Urban has fuelled fresh speculation about her long-standing friendship with Russell Crowe, after tabloid outlets claimed the pair have been speaking on the phone daily. According to those reports, the increased communication has reportedly left Crowe’s girlfriend feeling «blindsided.»

Sources quoted by entertainment media say Kidman has been leaning on Crowe for emotional support during a difficult period, though insiders insist the calls are strictly platonic. Neither Kidman nor Crowe has publicly commented.

Crowe’s girlfriend was allegedly surprised by the «intimacy» of their day-to-day conversations, though people close to the actor...

China has executed Bai Tianhui, a former top executive at China Huarong International Holdings, after he was convicted of accepting 1.1 bn yuan (£116 mln) in bribes, one of the largest corruption cases seen under President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-graft campaign.

Bai, who served as general manager of the state-owned offshore investment arm between 2014 and 2018, was executed on Tuesday in Tianjin, officials confirmed. Prosecutors said he exploited his position to take an «extremely large» amount of bribes, with the court ruling that the scale and severity of his crimes had caused «particularly serious» social harm.

The...

The Bank of England expects Finance Minister Rachel Reeves’ latest budget to reduce the UK’s annual inflation rate by 0.4 to 0.5 percentage points from the middle of next year, Deputy Governor Clare Lombardelli told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Speaking before parliament’s Treasury Committee, Lombardelli cited preliminary BoE analysis showing the disinflationary effect would last for about a year beginning in the second quarter of 2026.

Her comments align closely with earlier projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility, which estimated Reeves’ fiscal measures would lower inflation by 0.4 percentage points during the 2026/27 financial year.

The update comes...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met the delegation from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on December 9 as Uzbekistan signalled its ambition to become a future host for Formula 1. The delegation was led by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who arrived in Tashkent for the organisation’s General Assembly.

The group also included FIA Senate president Carmelo Sanz de Barros and Tim Sharman, the federation’s deputy president for mobility and tourism. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation with the global body that governs motorsport and promotes road safety worldwide.

Ben Sulayem praised the wide-ranging reforms under way in Uzbekistan...

Uzbekistan and the Vatican have taken another step toward deepening diplomatic cooperation as Pope Leo XIV formally accepted the credentials of Uzbekistan’s new ambassador, Abat Fayzullaev, on 6 December 2025. The ceremony, held in the ornate Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace, marked a milestone in Tashkent’s growing engagement with the Holy See.

Addressing thirteen newly accredited ambassadors, Pope Leo XIV underscored the Vatican’s commitment to diplomacy, dialogue, and global peace, principles he said must be actively pursued rather than passively hoped for.

«Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but an...