News

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have signed 20 trade agreements worth more than $400 mln during a business forum in the Fergana Region, according to the Dunyo news agency.

The deals cover a range of sectors including textiles, raw material supplies and pharmaceuticals, along with other areas of production.

The Afghan delegation was led by Zalgai Azimi, deputy chairman of the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry for investment. The group also included business figures Abdulla Rahimi, Said Ahmad Nurzad and Ubaidullah Hotak.

The agreements follow the creation of a joint Afghan-Uzbek business council in late March, aimed at strengthening economic...

The developers behind the popular Chinese gacha game Genshin Impact have officially pulled the plug on the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

While the decision to terminate support was first announced back in August 2025, the transition became absolute on April 8, rendering the title inaccessible on Sony’s previous-generation console.

HoYoverse has released a statement advising dedicated fans to migrate their adventures to the PlayStation 5, PC or mobile devices. The developer reassured players that all account progress is safely stored and can be retrieved simply by logging into the same account on a supported platform.

The move...

South Korean music phenomenons BTS are preparing to ignite the global stage once again as they kick off their highly anticipated “Arirang” world tour.

Beginning this Thursday with a spectacular three-night residency at Goyang Stadium just northwest of Seoul, the monumental trek is officially slated to become the largest and most ambitious concert tour ever undertaken by a K-pop act.

Redefining the live experience

The Goyang concerts will serve as the opening chapter for a staggering 85 performances spanning 34 major cities worldwide. The meticulously planned international itinerary includes stops in major cultural hubs such as Tokyo, Los Angeles...

South Korean singer and actor Cha Eun-woo announced on Wednesday that he has fully settled the outstanding taxes at the centre of recent large-scale tax evasion allegations.

Currently undertaking his mandatory military service, the star used social media to update the public and offer a fresh apology regarding the financial scandal.

“I sincerely apologise for causing disappointment and confusion to many people, including my fans, with the recent tax controversy surrounding me,” Cha shared online.

He added that he fully respects the procedures and findings of the National Tax Service and has cleared the...

The Formula 1 paddock is abuzz with fresh speculation that Aston Martin has successfully negotiated a reduction in Jonathan Wheatley‘s gardening leave, independent accounts on X report citing As-Web Japan. According to recent social media reports, the highly respected motorsport executive is poised to join the Silverstone-based outfit immediately after the sport’s traditional summer break.

If true, the move would secure a rapid return to the pit wall for Wheatley, who unexpectedly stepped down from his role as Audi’s Team Principal last month.

A swift return to the paddock

The latest development stems from paddock chatter and...

As they prepare for their journey back to Earth, the Artemis II crew members say they possess a wealth of unreleased photographs and untold stories to share with the public, BBC reports.

Having successfully navigated around the Moon, the four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft are scheduled to splash down near the coast of San Diego at approximately 20:00 U.S. EST on Friday (00:00 GMT).

Eager to Share the Experience

Addressing the press from the vacuum of space, mission pilot Victor Glover expressed the team’s immense eagerness to reveal what they have witnessed. This virtual press conference marked...

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov remains firmly in control at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after nine rounds, maintaining a comfortable lead in the race for the world title, RIA News reports.

In the latest round, Sindarov settled for a draw against Germany’s Matthias Blubaum, bringing his tally to seven points. The result keeps him well ahead of the chasing pack.

Closest rival Anish Giri strengthened his grip on second place after defeating Fabiano Caruana, moving to 5.5 points. Caruana now sits third on 4.5 points.

Elsewhere, the remaining matches ended in draws. R Praggnanandhaa shared the point with Wei...

Red Bull is set to lose another key figure, with Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase expected to join McLaren after his current contract ends, De Telegraaf.

Lambiase, 45, remains under contract with Red Bull until 2027 and is not expected to leave before then. However, multiple reports indicate he will move to McLaren in 2028 after accepting a lucrative offer.

Major move in the paddock

The British engineer, who also serves as Red Bull’s Head of Racing, had attracted interest from several teams, including Aston Martin and Williams. Sources suggest McLaren secured his services with a significantly...

Uzbekistan will introduce new rules requiring SIM cards to be registered in the user’s name for those signing up to payment services from April 22, the Central Bank said.

The requirement will not affect users already registered in banking apps or payment platforms.

New verification rules

Under the updated system, new users must pass a three-way verification check. Their phone number, personal identification number and bank card must all be registered to the same individual.

If the data does not match, registration may be denied or access to services restricted. Users attempting to link bank cards to numbers...

Jasveen Sangha, a British-born socialite turned drug supplier, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the ketamine-related death of Matthew Perry.

Sangha was convicted on multiple federal charges, including supplying the drug that led to the Friends star’s death in 2023. Prosecutors said she sold dozens of vials of ketamine, including the fatal dose, through an intermediary.

Once part of Hollywood’s elite social scene, Sangha, dubbed the «Ketamine Queen», was described by acquaintances as driven by access to celebrity circles rather than money. Authorities, however, said she ran a significant drug operation catering to high-profile...

Martin Brundle has confirmed he will return to coverage for the Miami Grand Prix after missing the previous two Formula 1 races in China and Japan.

The 66-year-old Sky Sports pundit and former F1 driver explained that he no longer attends every race weekend, now covering 16 events per season. His reduced schedule means he typically skips long-haul races, particularly those held early in the morning UK time.

«I do 16 races a year, so I have to miss some,» Brundle said, adding that he particularly regrets missing races at Suzuka, one of his...

The Uzbekistan U20 women’s national team confidently defeated Jordan at the Asian Cup, reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.

How the match unfolded
From the start, the Uzbek team took control of the game. Their pressure paid off in the first half when Etibor Shodieva opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a precise shot.

The lead quickly increased. Just four minutes later, Shakhnoza Dekanbaeva doubled the advantage. Uzbekistan continued to attack and create chances.

Before halftime, the team scored a third goal. Oydinoy Turgunova found the net in the 44th minute, making the outcome of...

The Uzbekistan national team performed successfully at the Asian Wrestling Championships. Alisher Ganiev won gold, while Shakhzod Kuchkarov secured bronze.

How the matches unfolded
First, attention focused on the under-60 kg category. Alisher Ganiev confidently progressed through the tournament. In the final, he faced North Korea’s Se Ung Ri.

In the decisive bout, the Uzbek wrestler fought aggressively. He controlled the match and capitalised on his chances. As a result, Ganiev won and became Asian champion.

The medal contests then continued in the under-72 kg category. Shakhzod Kuchkarov competed in the bronze medal match against Japan’s Taishi Narikuni.

The bout was...

The median offered salary in the management sector in Uzbekistan reached 11.28 mln soums in the first quarter of 2026, according to an analysis by hh.uz.

Over the past year, pay levels changed unevenly: while at the beginning of 2025 the median was nearly 12 mln soums, by the fourth quarter it had fallen to 10.6 mln soums.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of vacancies in the «Top and Middle Management» category increased by 10% year-on-year, reaching 1,118 listings. This is the highest level since 2025, when vacancies ranged from 946 to 1,027.

Employer demand is shifting...

A suspect in the notorious Gilgo Beach serial killings is expected to plead guilty to the murder of an eighth victim, marking a major development in one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent U.S. history.

Rex Heuermann, an architect from New York arrested in 2023, is set to change his plea on Wednesday in connection with the death of Karen Vergata, who disappeared in 1996. Her remains were discovered years later and identified in 2023.

Heuermann had previously pleaded not guilty to seven murders linked to a string of killings on Long Island between 1993 and 2011. According...

A fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict appeared at risk on Wednesday as Israel launched a major wave of airstrikes in Lebanon and Iran halted oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, citing alleged violations of the truce.

Israeli forces hit more than 100 targets across Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, reportedly killing at least 112 people. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disputed claims by Iran and Pakistan that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement reached just hours earlier.

In response, Iran suspended tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route...

The Senate of Uzbekistan has approved a law that establishes workers’ right to strike. The bill was рассмотрен at a Senate session.

A strike is defined as a temporary and voluntary collective refusal to work in order to protect labour and social rights.

The law now formally sets out procedures for notifying employers and labour authorities, as well as the rights and obligations of those taking part in strikes.

In addition, the law strengthens labour protections by guaranteeing safe working conditions, fair wages and freedom to choose a profession.

Amendments will be introduced to the Labour Code, Criminal Code, Administrative...

Uzbekistan Airways plans to limit increases in ticket prices despite an expected rise in fuel costs, a company representative told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The airline purchases aviation fuel on the domestic market and has not experienced supply disruptions so far. However, it does not rule out possible fare adjustments in the future, noting that fuel price trends remain difficult to predict.

Fuel prices on the rise

According to the International Air Transport Association, the global average price of jet fuel stood at $209 per barrel as of April 3, amid tensions in the Middle East. For comparison, the price was...

Uzbekistan Airways intends to limit the rise in air ticket prices despite the expected increase in fuel costs, a representative of the airline told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The company purchases aviation fuel on the domestic market, and so far there have been no supply disruptions.

At the same time, the airline does not rule out that fares may be adjusted in the future, as fuel price dynamics are difficult to predict.

According to the International Air Transport Association, as of April 3, the average global price of aviation fuel reached $209 per barrel amid the Middle East conflict. For comparison, on...

The stepmother of the late Friends star Matthew Perry is urging a U.S. judge to impose the harshest possible prison term on the drug dealer responsible for supplying the ketamine that claimed the actor’s life.

In a poignant victim impact statement presented to a California court on Tuesday, Debbie Perry condemned Jasveen Sangha, infamously dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”, for inflicting “irreversible” devastation. She implored the court to hand down the maximum penalty to prevent the dealer from destroying other families.

“The pain you’ve caused to hundreds maybe thousands is irreversible,” the grieving stepmother wrote.

She...

In March, criminals made off with a lorry containing over 12 tonnes of KitKat bars. This staggering loss of nearly 414,000 chocolate wafers rapidly captured the public’s imagination and turned a standard freight robbery into an internet sensation.

Hoping to recover the snacks, Nestle activated a tracking mechanism relying on the distinct batch numbers stamped onto individual wrappers. If scanned, these digits identify the sweets as stolen property and offer directions on how to notify authorities so the manufacturer can map where the contraband eventually surfaces.

Presidential-Style Escorts

The narrative took a highly theatrical turn when Canadian...

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev suffered one of the most unexpected defeats of his career, losing to Italian Matteo Berrettini in the second round of the Masters at Monte Carlo Country Club with a score of 0:6, 0:6. The match lasted only 49 minutes.

Before the match, Medvedev was considered the clear favorite. At Winline, the odds for a Berrettini victory were 3.20. At the same time, the scenario with two «bagels» was priced at 7700.00 — approximately a 0.013% probability.

There was no real contest on the court. Berrettini took the initiative from the very first games and confidently...

The plug has been firmly pulled on the upcoming Wireless Festival following an intervention by the British government, Variety reports. Promoters were left with no choice but to completely scrap the three-day music showcase after border officials formally denied an electronic travel authorisation for the event’s top-billed act, Kanye West.

Authorities concluded that permitting the American artist, who legally goes by Ye, to enter the UK would not be “conducive to the public good”. This stringent border prohibition stems directly from fierce domestic backlash regarding the rapper’s extensive and highly publicised track record of antisemitic rhetoric.

Even before Festival...

Uzbekistan and the United States are preparing to launch a joint investment platform by the end of 2026, according to Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration.

The initiative was discussed during talks with Ben Black, head of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. An agreement to establish the platform was signed in February during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Washington.

Mirziyoyeva said the meeting focused on a broad pipeline of projects, noting that DFC will support efforts to attract American investors to Uzbekistan and share investment risks. Senior Uzbek officials, including Komil Allamjonov, Laziz Kudratov and ambassador Furkat Sidikov...