News

Uzbekistan plans to reduce administrative costs for entrepreneurs to 90 bn soums ($7.5 mln), according to a decree from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Starting next year, the country will implement a «Start a Business in 15 Minutes» principle.

Under this initiative, business founders will receive a comprehensive package of services when registering their companies. This will include an electronic digital key, applications for bank accounts, and licences. Entrepreneurs will also be able to arrange rental contracts, register online, and purchase cash registers, according to the presidential decree.

National Statistics Committee data show that by early November this year, there were...

Jannik Sinner kept hold of his ATP Finals title with a straight sets victory over world number one Carlos Alcaraz, winning 7-6(4) 7-5 in a charged Turin finale, Reuters reports. The Italian dropped to the court after breaking Alcaraz in the last game then sprinted to celebrate with his team as the Inalpi Arena roared his name.

Sinner thanked the fans, calling the atmosphere «incredible» and saying it felt more like a football stadium than a tennis match.

A Rivalry Decided in Turin

The two players have defined the season and it felt fitting they met in the...

President Donald Trump has called on Republicans in Congress to support the release of files connected to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking a shift from his earlier reluctance to do so, Reuters reports.

His statement on Truth Social came shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that a vote to publish the Justice Department documents could help dispel claims linking Trump to Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of underage girls.

Trump had recently dismissed the focus on the files as a Democratic smear, yet he has now directed the Department of Justice to examine the connections between...

Bitcoin briefly touched $93,000 in early Asian trading on Monday before rebounding, BeInCrypto reports. This fall wiped out all gains made in 2025 and triggered $510 mln in liquidations over 24 hours. The sudden drop pushed the Fear and Greed Index down to 10, signalling extreme fear among traders.

Sharp Decline Erases All 2025 Progress

The correction has stripped nearly 24% from Bitcoin’s early October peak of $126,000. The low at $93,000 represented a psychological and technical break that reset year-to-date returns to zero.

Usual weekend trend also reversed. After several weeks of weekend strength, Bitcoin fell instead...

Former Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler resigned in August after violating Fed ethics rules, documents released Saturday showed. She had sought a waiver to address her financial holdings before a July policy meeting, but Chair Jerome Powell denied the request. Kugler missed the meeting and resigned days later.

Her latest financial disclosures revealed previously undisclosed stock trades in 2024, some during the Fed’s blackout periods. These included shares in Materialise NV, Southwest Airlines, Cava Group, Apple, and Caterpillar. The Office of Government Ethics referred the matter to the Fed’s inspector general, and an investigation is ongoing.

Kugler’s resignation allowed...

At the Asian Archery Championship in Bangladesh, Uzbek archers achieved a historic result — for the first time in the country’s history, they reached the finals and won medals at a continental tournament.

Amirkhon Sadikov and Ziyodakhon Abdusattorova, both participants in the 2024 Olympics, made it to the mixed team final and won silver.

The men’s team also performed strongly, defeating Kazakhstan in the bronze medal match to secure third place.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that the Uzbek national team was welcomed at Tashkent airport after the 20th World Championship in Fire and Rescue Sports.

At the 7th Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented a series of initiatives aimed at shaping the region’s development in the coming years.

He proposed transforming the meeting format into a strategic platform called the «Central Asia Community,» establishing a Secretariat, a Council of Elders, and strengthening the role of national coordinators.

He called for increasing mutual trade by at least 1.5 times and suggested adopting a Regional Development Program through 2035, as well as preparing a declaration on a shared investment space. He also emphasized the importance of jointly developing e-commerce.

In...

For the first time ever, researchers have successfully extracted viable RNA from the remains of a woolly mammoth, challenging long-held assumptions about RNA degradation after death. The study, published Friday in the journal Cell, focused on a juvenile mammoth named Yuka, whose remains were preserved in Siberian permafrost.

RNA, or ribonucleic acid, typically breaks down within minutes outside living cells. «It’s so amazingly surprising to find RNA that is 40,000 years old,» said Marc Friedlander, computational biologist and lead author of the study. Scientists believe Yuka, a female mammoth, died around 40,000 years ago, but the permafrost effectively froze...

Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to develop a film based on the wildly popular Labubu dolls, the Hong Kong-designed toys that have become a global TikTok sensation. The project is in its early stages, with no cast, director, or release date confirmed.

It remains unclear whether the adaptation will be live-action or animated, though industry insiders suggest a successful release could launch a full Labubu movie franchise. Sony has not commented on the project timeline or creative approach.

Labubu joins a growing trend of toy-based films that have proven major box office draws. Recent successes like «Barbie,» which...

Azerbaijan has officially become a full member of the Consultative Meetings on Central Asia, announced President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the 7th session of the regional summit in Tashkent.

The inclusion of Azerbaijan marks a significant expansion of the forum, increasing the membership from five to six countries. This decision reflects growing cooperation and the desire to deepen regional dialogue and collaboration on political, economic, and cultural issues.

«With Azerbaijan joining as a full member, the Consultative Meetings now represent a broader and more integrated Central Asian platform,» President Mirziyoyev said, highlighting the importance of strengthening...

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has invited Uzbekistan to partner in developing the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, with a focus on the ports of Aktau and Kuryk. The proposal was made during the second session of the Supreme Interstate Council.

President Tokayev emphasized the potential for joint logistics projects along the corridor, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and trade efficiency.

Beyond transport, he highlighted additional areas of collaboration:

 • Rare Earth Metals:

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could jointly explore and process rare earth minerals, creating new opportunities for industrial development.

 • Water and Energy Cooperation:

Tokayev stressed the importance of...

Belgium has announced plans to expand its diplomatic presence in Central Asia by opening its first-ever embassy in Tashkent. The decision is part of a major reform of the country’s foreign policy network, Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.

According to the ministry, Central Asia is viewed as a strategically important region, particularly in light of the development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor — the so-called «new Silk Road.»

The ministry emphasizes that Central Asia is already attracting significant foreign investment, and Belgium intends to strengthen its presence in order not to fall behind global trends.

In addition to Tashkent...

Uzbekistan has confirmed its readiness to begin work on joining the unified transit system of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The announcement was made on November 13 during a meeting between EAEU Customs Cooperation Minister Ruslan Davydov and the Chairman of Uzbekistan’s State Customs Committee, Akmalkhuja Mavlonov.

Joining the system is expected to simplify customs procedures and speed up the transit of goods in mutual trade. The meeting also covered the exchange of customs information on cargo and transport, which aims to increase transparency in foreign trade and strengthen regulatory control.

Davydov visited Uzbekistan’s target centre and electronic declaration...

Magzum Mirzagaliev, an adviser to the president of Kazakhstan, could be appointed as the country’s new ambassador to Uzbekistan, according to industry expert Nurlyan Zhumagulov, founder of Energy Monitor, who shared the news on his Telegram channel.

Born in 1978 in Almaty, Mirzagaliev has held several senior positions in Kazakhstan’s energy sector. He has worked at KazMunayGas, served as deputy and vice-minister of energy, and headed the Ministry of Ecology and Energy.

Since 2022, he has repeatedly served as a presidential adviser. His name is now under consideration for a diplomatic post.

Israeli conman Simon Leviev, who gained worldwide attention through the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, has been released from custody in Georgia after spending two months detained while awaiting extradition to Germany, his lawyer confirmed on Friday.

Leviev, 35, born Shimon Yehuda Hayut, became infamous after journalists and media outlets uncovered a long-running pattern of romance scams and financial offences as German officials sought to bring him to trial. He was detained at Batumi airport on September 15following an Interpol red notice requested by Germany and had been held in a penitentiary facility in Kutaisi in western Georgia.

Preparations are underway in Tashkent for the upcoming FIA General Assembly and the FIA Awards ceremony, which will take place in December. This marks the first time in history that Central Asia will host the prestigious event.

A meeting was held today at the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, attended by its leadership and representatives from the National Federation of Motorsport and Karting. Participants discussed the organisation of the large-scale event and reviewed key preparations.

During the meeting, NOC officials issued detailed instructions regarding organisational matters, including ensuring all conditions are met for hosting international delegations, providing high...

Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq has announced the launch of regular flights on the Tashkent–London–Tashkent route, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan has confirmed.

The services will begin on 15 December 2025 and operate twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. Flights will be operated using the Airbus A321-XLR, a new aircraft type for the airline. Landings in the United Kingdom will take place at London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

The launch follows an agreement between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom to increase the number of airlines providing regular flights between the two countries.

US rap star Cardi B has announced the birth of her fourth child, her first with American footballer Stefon Diggs.

The Grammy-winning artist shared the news on Instagram, writing: «I brought new music and a new album to the world! A new baby into my world, and one more reason to be the best version of me, one more reason to love me more than anything else or anyone else.»

Last month, Cardi B released her long-awaited second album, Am I The Drama?, joking publicly that she hoped people would buy it so she...

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has come under renewed scrutiny after admitting she usually sleeps for only two hours a night and often asks her aides to meet at 3am. The revelation has deepened concerns in a country already notorious for overwork and rising burnout.

Sanae Takaichi spoke about her minimal sleep routine after a wave of criticism last week when she called staff to an early morning meeting in Tokyo shortly before a scheduled appearance in parliament. Japanese media dubbed the gathering the «3am study session». It took place barely six hours before a budget committee hearing.

Former US President Donald Trump has announced plans to take legal action against the BBC over how his January 6, 2021 speech was edited by the Panorama programme. The broadcaster has apologised but refused to provide financial compensation.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Trump said:

«We’ll sue them for anywhere between $1 bn and $5 bn, probably sometime next week.»

He added that he felt obliged to act to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Disputed Panorama Edit Sparks Controversy

The controversy arose after the BBC released an edited...

Three Chinese astronauts whose return was postponed after space debris struck their spacecraft have landed safely in China, Reuters reports.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed for the first time that the Shenzhou-20 return capsule suffered «tiny cracks» in one of its small windows. Agency said the damage meant the capsule no longer met safety standards for a crewed descent, so the vessel will remain in orbit to carry out experiments instead. The crew, who had been due home nine days earlier after a six-month mission on the Tiangong space station, were ordered to delay their return.

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has hosted an international forum on employment and sustainable economic growth in Central Asia, featuring the presentation of the World Bank’s new report, «Europe and Central Asia Economic Update: Employment and Prosperity.»

The event brought together officials from Uzbek ministries and government agencies, World Bank representatives, think tanks and independent experts to discuss labor market trends, job creation and the region’s economic resilience.

World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia Najy Benhassine said Central Asia faces a «tremendous employment challenge» as its working-age population grows, but praised Uzbekistan’s «confident economic growth driven...

Blue Origin has successfully landed its New Glenn reusable rocket for the first time, marking a major milestone for Jeff Bezos in his long-running space race with Elon Musk.

The 321-foot New Glenn rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida late Thursday, carrying NASA’s Escapade mission – two probes designed to study how Mars lost its atmosphere, due to arrive at the Red Planet in 2027. After deploying the payload, the rocket’s first-stage booster returned to Earth and landed on an ocean barge, ready to be reused.

The landing makes Blue Origin only the second...

Uzbekistan advanced to the final of the Al Ain International Cup in the UAE after a confident 2–0 victory over Egypt on Friday at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

Midfielder Oston Urunov was the hero of the night, scoring twice to secure Uzbekistan’s place in the tournament’s title match, where they will now meet Iran, who defeated Cape Verde in the other semifinal.

Egypt, meanwhile, will face Cape Verde in the third-place playoff on Monday.

The four-team Al Ain International Cup, featuring Iran, Uzbekistan, Egypt and Cape Verde, kicked off on November 13 and will conclude on November...