News

The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft have safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, marking the triumphant conclusion of the historic 10-day Artemis II mission, NASA reports.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen touched down off the coast of San Diego on Friday night following an extraordinary flyby of the moon. The landmark journey represented the first time humans had ventured beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

A fiery descent and successful recovery

The return journey culminated in a crucial test...

The global pop phenomenon KATSEYE has officially left its mark on the Californian desert, the Variety reports.

Taking to the stage at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival the HYBE and Geffen Records girl group delivered a breathtaking performance that seamlessly blended high-octane choreography, soaring vocals and an ambitious “demon hunters” fantasy narrative.

Since their formation the international sextet has consistently pushed the boundaries of what a global girl group can achieve. However their Coachella debut elevated their artistry to an entirely new level. Transforming the festival stage into a cinematic battleground the members embraced their latest...

Uzbekistan Airports has relisted a commercial lot on the E-auksion electronic platform offering space to establish a new coffee shop at Tashkent International Airport.

The 95-square-metre area is located on the second floor of the international arrivals hall. To participate in the bidding process potential tenants must meet strict criteria. Candidates are required to have a minimum of three years of experience in the catering sector and currently manage at least three active locations within the city.

The starting price for the premises is set at 300,000 soums ($25) per square metre. According to the standard terms of the...

China and several Central Asian countries are facing growing difficulties in containing an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), raising concerns over livestock losses and regional trade disruptions.

The outbreak has been reported in northwestern China, particularly in Xinjiang and Gansu provinces, where authorities confirmed infections in cattle and introduced emergency measures including culling, transport restrictions and accelerated vaccination campaigns.

Officials say the disease, including the fast-spreading SAT-1 strain, poses a serious threat due to its high transmissibility and limited effectiveness of existing vaccines, complicating containment efforts.

The situation is further complicated by cross-border livestock movement across Central Asia...

Uzbekistan is expected to maintain its budget deficit below 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), according to projections by the Asian Development Bank.

The outlook reflects the country’s ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts and broader economic reforms aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability.

Analysts note that Uzbekistan’s economic trajectory remains stable, supported by structural reforms and prudent fiscal management, though external pressures and fiscal risks persist.

The forecast underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining sustainable public finances while continuing to attract investment and support long-term growth.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you...

A delegation from the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) held talks with Uzbek diplomats to expand cooperation in the textile sector and strengthen bilateral trade ties.

The meeting, held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Islamabad, brought together PHMA representatives and Uzbek officials, including Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, to explore new opportunities in value-added textiles.

Discussions focused on increasing trade in hosiery, garments and other textile products, while also promoting joint ventures and closer business-to-business links between the two countries.

The Pakistani side highlighted its manufacturing capacity and export expertise, expressing interest in accessing Uzbekistan’s market and...

Reality television star Kim Kardashian completed a sprawling 11,000-mile round trip to spend just 24 hours in London with her Formula One driver boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, The Sun reports.

The 45-year-old mother of four touched down in the UK on her private jet on Tuesday in an effort to maintain their long-distance relationship. After departing Los Angeles on Monday evening she landed at Hampshire’s Farnborough Airport at 4 pm before taking a 90-minute chauffeur-driven ride to Hamilton’s £18 mln residence in Kensington.

The high-profile couple remained inside his luxurious six-bedroom West London mansion under the watchful eye of their...

Jos Verstappen has publicly addressed the surprising revelation that Gianpiero Lambiase is set to depart Red Bull for a rival team.

Lambiase has been Max Verstappen‘s trusted race engineer ever since the Dutch driver arrived at the Milton Keynes outfit early in the 2016 campaign. Over the years they have forged a formidable working relationship and built one of the most dominant partnerships in Formula One history.

Despite their immense success Red Bull recently confirmed that Lambiase will leave the team in 2028 to take up a new role as chief racing officer at McLaren.

Speaking to RaceXpress, Jos...

Construction of a 650-MW combined-cycle gas turbine is underway at the Navoi Thermal Power Plant with the participation of Japan’s Mitsubishi, the press service of Uzbekistan’s Energy Ministry reports.

The new equipment will generate up to 4.8 bn kWh of electricity and about 200 gigacalories of heat energy annually. This will allow the plant to significantly reduce its natural gas consumption by approximately 870 mln cubic metres per year.

The large-scale project involves constructing administrative buildings and installing key hardware, including gas and steam turbines, generators, a heat recovery steam generator, a cooling tower and other infrastructure facilities. The...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) anticipates robust economic performance for Uzbekistan in the coming years, forecasting steady growth and a significant drop in inflation despite growing geopolitical tensions across the globe.

According to the latest Asian Development Outlook for April 2026, Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product is projected to grow by 6.7% in 2026 and accelerate slightly to 6.8% in 2027.

This follows an estimated growth of 7.7% in 2025. Meanwhile, inflation in the country is expected to continue its downward trajectory. Following an estimated 7.3% in 2025, inflation is forecast to fall to 6.5% in 2026 and further decrease...

The highly anticipated wedding details for Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce have finally emerged following their engagement last August, The Sun reports.

While widespread rumours suggested the couple was eyeing a $32 mln Rhode Island mansion for a fairytale ceremony, they have reportedly opted for a different setting.

According to Page Six, “save the date” cards have been sent to guests, confirming the A-list duo will marry in New York City on July 3.

The pop star has strong ties to the Big Apple, having combined two adjacent Tribeca penthouses into a sprawling apartment...

Following a wave of criticism from the grid, Formula One’s governing body has confirmed a “constructive dialogue on difficult topics” took place during a Thursday summit in London. The meeting brought together technical experts from the FIA, competing teams and power unit manufacturers to evaluate potential tweaks to the controversial 2026 regulations.

While the opening rounds of the new regulatory era have successfully delivered closer racing through high-speed corners, the heavily revised power units have drawn intense scrutiny. Acknowledging the problem, the FIA released a statement confirming that all stakeholders have committed to refining the energy management regulations.

Following the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne last year, the historic Los Angeles estate he shared with his wife Sharon has returned to the property market with a $17 mln price tag.

Property records show the couple purchased the 1920s Hancock Park residence for $11.85 mln in 2015. They had previously considered selling the home prior to the Black Sabbath frontman’s passing, initially listing it for $18 mln in July 2022.

The asking price was later reduced to $17.5 mln before the property was withdrawn from the market entirely.

At that time, the couple were weighing up a...

Uzbekistan has placed sovereign international bonds at 12.25% per annum, which is lower than current rates on global financial markets. According to the Central bank, this indicates high investor confidence in the country’s reforms and economic policy.

For comparison, on March 31 three-year government treasury bonds worth 300 bn soums ($24.6 mln) were placed on the domestic market at 12.39%.

“In conditions of limited opportunities to attract large volumes of funds on the domestic market, attracting financing on the external market at a lower rate reflects the positive expectations of international investors,” the regulator commented.

Uzbek Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov defeated India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the 10th round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, cementing his position at the top of the leaderboard and extending his lead.

While the game began with careful manoeuvring, it quickly transitioned into a sharp and complex battle. Playing with the black pieces, Sindarov allowed Praggnanandhaa to win a piece in exchange for two pawns. However, the Uzbek grandmaster seized the initiative and launched a dangerous attack.

The critical moment arose around move 22 when Sindarov capitalised on his opponent’s exposed king. Facing relentless pressure and an inescapable...

Uzbek referees will take part in the World Cup, which will be held this summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Football Association of Uzbekistan reported.

The Uzbek refereeing team will be headed by Ilgiz Tantashev. His assistants will be Andrey Sapenko and Timur Gainullin.

Ilgiz Tantashev was born on April 5, 1984, in Bukhara. He has been a FIFA referee since 2013 and began officiating international matches in 2014. His career includes work at major international tournaments, including the AFC Asian Cups in 2019 and 2023, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, as well as the 2024 Olympic...

To mark the 690th anniversary of Amir Temur‘s (Tamerlane) birth, Uzbekistan has released commemorative pure silver coins, the republic’s Central Bank reports. Their face value is 100,000 soums.

The obverse of the coins depicts Amir Temur, the mausoleum built in his honour in Samarkand and the Ak-Saray Palace in Shakhrisabz. On the reverse are quotes from the Sahibqiran:

The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan has explained how to use the FIFA PASS priority booking system for visa interviews.

This option is available to those who have already purchased tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the official website.

First, log in to your account on the website and submit the consent form to participate in FIFA PASS. Enter your name and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport.

Next, go to the embassy website and begin the visa application process. Select your country of citizenship or residence, complete the DS-160 online form, and enter your name...

Aziza Zokirova and Rukhshona Parpieva won silver medals at the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar. The tournament is not yet over for the team.

First, Aziza Zokirova competed in the under-75 kg category. Her opponent was China’s Bao Zi. In the early rounds, the Uzbek boxer looked confident and controlled the fight.

However, her opponent increased the pace later on. In the stages, she took control of the bout. As a result, the judges awarded the victory to Bao Zi with a score of 3:2, leaving Zokirova with a silver medal.

Then Rukhshona Parpieva fought in the final of the...

Porto drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals. The winner of the tie will be decided in the return match.

How the match unfolded
Porto started the game actively and quickly took control. In the 10th minute, Gomes opened the scoring after a cross to the far post.

The hosts continued to apply pressure and dominated possession. However, Nottingham Forest quickly equalised. In the 13th minute, Fernandes scored an own goal, which became a key moment in the match.

After that, the game evened out. Porto attacked more frequently and created chances but failed...

A senior delegation from Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR held talks with Uzbekistan’s national oil and gas firm Uzbekneftegaz on April 9 to deepen bilateral cooperation.

SOCAR Vice President Arzu Javadova met with Uzbekneftegaz Chairman Abdugani Sanginov during a visit to Uzbekistan, where both sides reviewed current collaboration and explored opportunities for expansion.

The companies highlighted the «dynamic» development of their relationship, linking it to the broader strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Discussions also covered progress on a joint geological exploration project in the Ustyurt region, alongside other areas of mutual interest in the energy sector.

From...

Uzbekistan plans to introduce a system in which goods will first be stored in special bonded warehouses and then sold through online platforms. Customs duties and clearance will only be applied when the product is actually sold.

The mechanism is proposed to be tested between 2026 and 2028. It was presented to Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a briefing on the development of e-commerce.

This means companies will not have to pay duties in advance or spend money on inventory, which will ease operations for manufacturers, reduce logistics costs and speed up access to foreign markets.

All warehouses and platforms will be...

Uzbekistan’s National Investment Fund (UzNIF) has announced plans to publish a registration document and is considering an initial public offering on both the London Stock Exchange and the Tashkent Stock Exchange.

The proposed IPO would involve the sale of ordinary shares and global depositary receipts by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is currently the fund’s sole shareholder. UzNIF said it would not receive any proceeds from the share sale.

The fund was created under a presidential decree in 2024 and is designed to manage stakes in major state-owned enterprises while improving their governance, transparency and market...

Central Bank of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves stood at $68.9 bn at the start of April 2026, down by $8.1 bn over the previous month.

The volume of gold holdings increased from 13.1 mln to 13.4 mln troy ounces. However, the value of those reserves fell sharply by $6.82 bn to $60.85 bn, reflecting a decline in global prices.

Foreign currency reserves also dropped by $1.27 bn to $7.57 bn, marking their lowest level since January 1, 2025.

According to analysts at the World Gold Council, gold prices fell by 12% in...