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FIFA has announced a major new partnership with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), securing up to $1bn (£762mln) in financing to support the construction and renovation of football facilities worldwide.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Monday, the SFD will offer discounted loans for stadiums and multi-sport venues, with developing nations receiving priority access. Fifa said the initiative aims to help national governments design, finance and build modern infrastructure capable of hosting international competitions.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the funding would provide crucial support for member associations struggling to meet infrastructure requirements. «This...

Taiwan’s Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai has reiterated that the island is a «fully sovereign and independent country,» firmly rejecting Chinese President Xi Jinping’s assertion that Taiwan’s «return» to China is part of the post-war international order.

Cho’s comments came after Xi raised the issue during a phone call with former U.S. President Donald Trump, their first direct conversation since a trade truce earlier this year. The exchange took place against a backdrop of rising tensions in East Asia, including a diplomatic clash between China and Japan over Tokyo’s warning that it could respond militarily to any Chinese attack...

China on Monday sharply criticised Japan’s plan to deploy medium-range missiles on Yonaguni Island, located just 110 km from Taiwan, accusing Tokyo of deliberately provoking military confrontation.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said «right-wing forces in Japan» were pushing the region toward «disaster,» warning that Beijing remained «determined and capable» of defending its territorial sovereignty. Her comments come amid the worst diplomatic rift between the two nations in years, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent suggestion that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said over the...

On November 28, following Friday prayers, all mosques in Uzbekistan will hold the Istisqa — a collective prayer asking Allah to send rain, according to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims.

The initiative comes amid a prolonged autumn drought and the absence of forecasted rainfall. Officials noted that the prayer for rain has deep roots in Islamic tradition.

At the same time, animals will be sacrificed in central mosques across regions and districts, as well as at sacred sites. The meat will be distributed to needy families, orphans, widows, low-income households and elderly individuals living alone.

Uzbeks currently in Mecca...

Afghanistan has decided to reroute its coal exports to Uzbekistan, ending shipments to Pakistan, Afintl reports. A representative of the Balkh governor confirmed that Tashkent and Kabul have reached a trade agreement.

The change in export routes comes amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, including armed clashes along the border earlier this year. The Taliban has also announced plans to transport agricultural products through Uzbekistan by air to European markets.

Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan is exploring a new freight rail corridor to Pakistan through Afghanistan.

Tashkent is set to develop a 33-kilometre «green corridor” by 2026, according to a decree from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

By early April next year, city authorities will finalise the master plan for the “Green Tashkent» project. Plans include 700 modern public spaces and expanded cycling infrastructure. The Ministry of Construction will also clean existing decorative fountains within two weeks and double their number, while conducting a full analysis of pollution sources. Residents will be encouraged to participate in eco-monitoring through the Air Monitoring Uzbekistan platform.

Additional measures include the installation of 347 automated monitoring stations, with 23 stations specifically for...

Uzbekistan’s application to join the ASEAN Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation has been approved, according to Dunyo. The initiative was proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and follows nearly a year of preparatory work and negotiations. The decision was made during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur under Malaysia’s chairmanship.

The Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia was originally signed on February 24, 1976 in Bali, Indonesia, and is recognised as a key framework setting out the principles of regional cooperation within ASEAN.

The ASEAN region currently consists of 11 countries with a combined population...

Liam Payne’s family is facing renewed heartache as his ex-fiancée Maya Henry works on a documentary about their relationship and break-up.

The project comes just over a year after the One Direction singer’s death. Maya is developing the film with HBO and an independent studio, drawing on her years with Liam from 2018 to 2022.

Filming will take place in Texas where contributors are being invited, with overseas participants flown in. Industry figures fear the documentary may feel one-sided as Liam is no longer able to share his account and his family are still dealing with profound loss.

Maya...

Uzbekistan hosted 9.7 mln foreign tourists in the first ten months of 2025, according to the National Statistics Agency. The total number of visitors grew by 50% compared with the same period last year.

Kyrgyzstan led the way with 2.8 mln travellers followed by Kazakhstan with 2.3 mln and Tajikistan with 2.2 mln visitors. Russia ranked fourth with 851.9K tourists. Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, Turkey, India and Korea also featured in the top ten source countries.

Kursiv also reports that the share of tourism in Uzbekistan’s GDP is set to rise from 3.5% to 7% by 2030.

Tashkent plans to introduce a Trade-In programme for vehicles over 15 years old, according to a decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Ministry of Economy and Finance, together with Uzavtosanoat, will oversee the scheme.

The Trade-In programme will apply to passenger cars and trucks manufactured before 2010 that do not meet Euro-4 standards. Vehicle owners can exchange their old vehicles for new ones with a top-up payment.

Additionally, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will carry out vehicle inspections across the country by the end of next year.

Among other initiatives, Tashkent aims to install AI-controlled smart traffic lights at...

Uzbekistan has expanded the list of equipment exempt from customs duties, focusing on air purifiers and monitoring devices, under a decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The exemption now covers equipment and instruments for specialised environmental laboratories, automated small monitoring stations, and emission control systems. Observation posts, dust and gas purification units, local water treatment facilities, and household air purifiers can also be imported duty-free, whether by individuals or businesses.

The measure is expected to significantly lower the cost of household air purifiers, which previously faced a 20% customs duty with a minimum of $3 per unit.

Kursiv also...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree introducing urgent measures to improve the ecological situation in Tashkent. A special commission has been set up to oversee implementation.

Earlier, Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the presidential administration, recommended strengthening environmental controls. On November 24, a meeting was held to review the main factors affecting the capital’s air quality.

At the meeting, Mirziyoyeva proposed a series of initiatives aimed at preventing similar pollution incidents in the future. These measures include both short-term actions and long-term strategies.

According to IQAir, as of 12:10 (GMT+5) on the day of the report, air...

Uzbekistan is close to completing its negotiations with Russia over joining the World Trade Organization, presidential representative Azizbek Urunov said. Talks with Moscow took place last week.

«Negotiations are practically finished: all major elements have been agreed and only a few technical points require final verification and confirmation,» Urunov wrote on LinkedIn.

It is expected that Russia will finalise the discussions by the end of the year at a WTO council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Urunov noted that Uzbekistan still needs to address Taiwan’s position before finalising its membership.

Russia officially joined the WTO...

To tackle air pollution, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree introducing accelerated gasification of all greenhouses in Tashkent.

The Ministry of Energy has been instructed to secure gas supply agreements for all greenhouse enterprises within a week and to ensure uninterrupted delivery.

In addition, a special commission will temporarily halt operations at greenhouses and other facilities that release pollutants into the air.

Kursiv also reports that enterprises in Tashkent that are polluting the air will be relocated to industrial zones.

By decree of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, enterprises in Tashkent that are polluting the air will be relocated to industrial zones.

Requirements for industrial facilities, especially those operating at night, will also be tightened. Other initiatives include reviewing the issuance of environmental permits and business licenses.

Authorities plan to ban vehicles that fail to meet environmental standards and increase monitoring of chemicals and fuels.

A special commission will inspect all objects affecting the city’s environment, including factories, construction sites and transport, over three days. Polluting enterprises will then be identified and given clear environmental obligations.

Plans also include stricter controls...

Uzbekistan has joined UNESCO’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications, an agreement that requires member states to mutually recognise diplomas obtained in other participating countries.

In early November, Uzbekistan ratified the convention for higher education, becoming the first Central Asian country to join the initiative.

The Agency for Assessment of Knowledge and Qualifications explained that diplomas from higher education institutions in Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries may now be directly recognised in Uzbekistan without undergoing the nostrification process. Under national law, foreign diplomas can be recognised without exams or additional verification if international agreements...

New York mayor Eric Adams has led a delegation to the Centre of Islamic Civilisation in Tashkent which was established on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The visitors were briefed on the centre’s main areas of work, its educational mission and its deep historical collection which includes ancient manuscripts, rare artefacts and modern interactive displays.

«While touring the Islamic Civilization Center, I gained a deeper understanding that the true essence of Islam is a great civilization based on peace, humanism and rich historical heritage. Every person who comes here has the...

Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines is introducing new direct connections from Turkestan’s Hazret Sultan International Airport to three cities in Uzbekistan: Urgench, Bukhara and Samarkand. Tickets are already on sale.

The Turkestan to Urgench service begins on December 1 with flights scheduled for Monday, Friday and Sunday. The Turkestan to Bukhara route opens on December 2 and will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Regular flights linking Turkestan and Samarkand start on December 3 with services planned for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Kursiv also reports that Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq has announced the launch of regular flights on the Tashkent–London–Tashkent route.

Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration chief Saida Mirziyoyeva has called for stronger environmental oversight during a meeting on Tashkent’s worsening air quality, the presidential press service reports.

The government will introduce tougher requirements for construction and tree planting, alongside plans to create a national air monitoring system. These proposals will form the basis of a draft decree to be reviewed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

At the meeting, officials outlined the key factors driving the current pollution levels in the capital and discussed potential steps to reduce risks to public health and the environment.

Based on this data, Mirziyoyeva proposed a set...

Nvidia has taken a stake in London-based fintech giant Revolut as part of a major secondary share sale that values the company at $75 bn (£57 bn).

The investment was made through Nvidia’s venture arm, NVentures, joining leading global funds including Andreessen Horowitz, Franklin Templeton and T. Rowe Price. The deal was led by Coatue, Greenoaks, Dragoneer and Fidelity.

Revolut employees were offered the chance to sell shares in the transaction — the fifth such opportunity for staff since the company’s launch.

Revolut CFO Victor Stinga said the strong investor demand and upgraded valuation demonstrate the company’s «rapid growth...

Senior officials from across Central Asia gathered in Samarkand for a high-level ministerial meeting focused on strengthening regional cooperation for snow leopard conservation and climate-resilient mountain landscapes, ahead of the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20).

Hosted by Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change with support from UNDP, the meeting brought together representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as international partners. The discussions underscored the region’s growing leadership in biodiversity protection, sustainable wildlife management and climate-resilient development.

Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues, highlighted the urgency...

UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry’s biggest career victory was quickly overshadowed by a tense backstage confrontation with middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday night in Qatar.

Garry, 28, had just earned a unanimous-decision win over former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad when he encountered Chimaev behind the scenes. Footage circulating online shows Garry congratulating Chimaev on helping corner Arman Tsarukyan in his successful return bout.

The exchange turned sour when Chimaev suddenly shoved Garry and shouted, «I’m gonna f*** you up,» prompting security to intervene.

Garry appeared taken aback...

The aviation sector has become a key part of Uzbekistan’s economy, contributing $795.5 mln, or about 0.9% of the nation’s GDP, according to a new analysis by Oxford Economics and reports from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The report details that the sector is responsible for supporting 128,300 jobs across the country. These employment figures encompass not only those working directly for airlines and airports but also jobs generated through the wider supply chain and employee spending.

The aviation sector itself directly employs 12,400 people, including those working for airlines, airports, on-site businesses, air navigation services, and aerospace manufacturers...

Skye Gyngell, the Australian chef who became a leading figure in the UK culinary scene, has died aged 62. Her family described her as a “culinary visionary who influenced generations of chefs and growers globally to think about food and its connection to the land”.

Gyngell rose to prominence after transforming Petersham Nurseries cafe in south-west London and earning a Michelin star. She later led Spring at Somerset House and Marle and Hearth at Heckfield Place in Hampshire.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver paid tribute, thanking her for inspiring young cooks, while Nigella Lawson wrote on Instagram that her death was...