News

Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered another masterclass performance in Game 2 of the World Series, throwing his second straight complete game to help the Los Angeles Dodgers even the series.

The 26-year-old ace allowed just one run over nine innings, striking out eight on 105 pitches. Despite a shaky start, 23 pitches in the first inning and 46 by the third, Yamamoto settled in and retired the final 20 batters he faced.

«To be honest, I didn’t think I could complete the game because my pitch count was getting high early,» Yamamoto admitted. «But I’m very happy...

The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Sahyadri has made a port call at Japan’s Sasebo base, marking a key phase in the bilateral maritime cooperation between Japan and India. The arrival comes as part of the ongoing Japan‑India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX) 2025, which includes sea and harbour phases involving complex drills.

During the harbour visit, Indian and Japanese naval crews engaged in cross-deck visits, professional exchanges and joint operational planning. According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the exercise included advanced anti-submarine warfare, missile-defence scenarios and replenishment at sea, reinforcing interoperability between the two navies.

Commander Captain Rajat Kumar, commanding...

US Vice President JD Vance will visit Kenya from November 24–27, the first trip to East Africa by a senior official in the Trump administration, following the G20 Summit in Johannesburg (Nov. 22–23). Vance is expected to meet President William Ruto and top officials for talks on trade, security and regional stability as Washington seeks to reassure Nairobi after recent remarks by President Trump questioning US military engagement in Kenya and Somalia.

The agenda will likely include the lapse of AGOA on September 30 and prospects for a new trade framework, Kenya’s leadership of the Haiti security mission, and...

Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, admitted to the charges during the opening of his trial in central Japan on Tuesday, according to public broadcaster NHK.

«Everything was done by me, and there is no mistake,» the 45-year-old told the court. Yamagami faces charges of murder and violating Japan’s firearms and swords law. A verdict is expected on January 21, 2026.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, led the country from 2006–2007 and again from 2012–2020, known for his «Abenomics» policies and efforts to expand Japan’s...

Argentina captain Lionel Messi says he hopes to represent his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but will make a final decision based on how his body feels ahead of the tournament.

Speaking to NBC News, the 38-year-old Inter Miami star said he dreams of defending Argentina’s title next year in the competition co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

«It’s something extraordinary to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,» Messi said. «But I’ll see how I feel during preseason next year and decide whether I can really be...

Germany is set to radically modernise the Bundeswehr under a €377Bn defense overhaul spanning land, air, sea, space, and cyber, according to internal government plans. The roadmap lists ~320 acquisition projects for the 2026 budget cycle, with 178 already tied to contractors and a heavy emphasis on German industry.

Rheinmetall emerges as the biggest beneficiary, appearing in 53 lines worth €88Bn, including armored programs that foresee 687 Puma IFVs (662 combat, 25 training) delivered by 2035. Air defense is a core focus: the military plans 561 Skyranger 30 counter-drone turrets and €4.2Bn in IRIS-T systems and missiles (14 SLM...

Bitcoin remained stable near $114K on Monday as traders adopted a cautious stance ahead of this week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, where the U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to outline its latest monetary policy outlook.

After a volatile month marked by profit-taking and shifting risk sentiment, the leading cryptocurrency hovered within a narrow trading range, with analysts noting reduced liquidity and lower trading volumes.

Market participants are closely watching the Fed’s tone on inflation and interest rates, as any hint of policy tightening could pressure risk assets, including crypto.

«Bitcoin’s consolidation reflects investor...

Uzbekistan attracted around 8.6 mln foreign visitors between January and September 2025, according to the National Statistics Agency. The figure marks an increase of 2.8 mln tourists, or 49.3%, compared with the same period in 2024.

Most travellers came from neighbouring countries, with 2.4 mln arriving from Kyrgyzstan, 2 mln from Kazakhstan and 1.9 mln from Tajikistan. Russia ranked next with 757,100 visitors, followed by Afghanistan with 343,600 and Turkmenistan with 275,000.

Uzbekistan also welcomed a growing number of tourists from beyond the region, including 176,900 from China, 129,900 from Turkey, 55,800 from India and 35,200 from South Korea.

Riyadh Cables Group Co. has signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire a 51% stake in Artikul Aziya Kabel LLC, one of Uzbekistan’s leading cable manufacturers. The deal, valued at SAR 147.7 mln ($39.4 mln), was announced on October 27 and executed through Riyadh Cables’ wholly owned subsidiary, Riyadh Cables Co.

According to a statement released to Tadawul, the sellers in the transaction are Mirzabotir Komilov and Mirzabaxodir Kamilov. The agreement remains subject to several conditions, including approval from Uzbekistan’s Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee, completion of legal formalities by the sellers, and regulatory clearance from Artikul...

Alipay+, the global wallet gateway of Ant International, has announced a partnership with HUMO, Uzbekistan’s national payment system, to enable cross-border QR payments between Uzbekistan and more than 50 countries. The partnership was formalised in Beijing.

The Octomobile app by Octobank will be the first Uzbek e-wallet integrated with Alipay+, with more HUMO-linked wallets and bank apps expected to join by the end of 2025. HUMO becomes the tenth national QR network to partner with Alipay+.

Global Connectivity for Uzbek Travellers

In the first stage, HUMO users will be able to make payments in Uzbek sums while travelling...

The National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s average monthly nominal wage reached 6.17 mln soums ($512) in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 19.2% increase compared with the same period last year.

Regional Breakdown

The highest average wages were recorded in Tashkent, where employees earned 10.38 mln soums ($861) per month. Navoi region followed with 7.61 mln soums ($631), while the lowest averages were observed in Kashkadarya (4.27 mln soums/$354) and Surkhandarya (4.35 mln soums/$361).

Wages also rose notably in Samarkand, where they increased by 24.8%, the fastest growth among all regions.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on adopting advanced global practices and technologies in Uzbekistan’s geology sector.

Officials outlined plans to modernise the national geological system, expand the mineral resource base, and increase the processing of raw materials. The project includes the creation of a new competence centre in partnership with leading international institutions, including the Colorado School of Mines in the United States.

The centre will focus on introducing digital solutions, artificial intelligence, and modern geophysical methods to accelerate the discovery of new deposits. It will also integrate geochemical and space research data to enhance exploration efficiency.

Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva held a meeting with US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who are visiting Uzbekistan on an official trip.

The talks focused on strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries, as well as expanding cooperation in public security. The US officials praised the speed and scale of reforms carried out in Uzbekistan over the past eight years under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership.

According to the US Embassy, the meeting also included a «productive exchange of views on...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a United States delegation headed by Sergio Gor, Special Envoy of President Donald Trump for South and Central Asia. The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other senior officials.

During the talks, both sides discussed the strengthening of the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the United States and reviewed the implementation of agreements reached during their meeting in New York on September 23.

The discussions focused on expanding business cooperation, boosting trade, and preparing for the visit of a delegation from the US Chamber of...

Russia’s second-largest oil company, Lukoil, announced on October 27 that it will sell its international assets in response to new US sanctions linked to the conflict in Ukraine.

The company said the divestment will proceed under a wind-down licence granted by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

«The sale of the assets is conducted under OFAC wind down license. If necessary the company plans to apply for extension of the license to ensure uninterrupted operations of its international assets,» Lukoil said in a statement, adding that it has begun reviewing offers from potential...

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is preparing a joint financing package worth around $1.45 bn to support renewable energy development in Uzbekistan, Nikkei reports. The initiative is part of Tokyo’s broader effort to strengthen its economic and strategic presence in Central Asia.

The funds will be directed toward the construction of two integrated complexes combining solar power generation and energy storage systems near Samarkand. With a combined capacity of 1,000 MW, the facilities are set to become among the largest renewable energy projects in Uzbekistan.

International Consortium to Lead the Project

The project is led by...

South Korean authorities have arrested a 29-year-old Uzbek national accused of diverting charity donations to Hamas and Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (KTJ), an al-Qaida-linked militant group, officials said Monday.

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, working with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the FBI, detained the suspect, identified only as «A,» who allegedly posed as a charity worker for an «Africa well project» while raising funds through eight social media accounts.

Investigators found that «A» collected about 952 mln won ($626 K) in cryptocurrency and transferred portions to wallets linked to KTJ and Hamas. He also promoted extremist ideology...

Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is expanding its economic and energy partnership with the United States following high-level talks in Tashkent between Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and a U.S. delegation led by Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Trend reports.

The meeting focused on advancing agreements reached during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s September visit to Washington, particularly in investment, infrastructure, energy, mining, agriculture and information technology.

Minister Kudratov stressed the need for practical implementation of these deals, noting a growing interest...

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan unveiled joint tourism offerings at the «Highlights of the Silk Road» European roadshow in Prague, the first event co-hosted by the Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) and Uzbekistan’s National PR Centre to position both countries as leading Silk Road destinations.

The showcase, part of a six-city swing engaging Central & Eastern European stakeholders and linked marketing in Barcelona, spotlighted UNESCO-listed heritage, cultural circuits, and nature-led itineraries. Azerbaijan promoted Baku’s old-and-new city appeal alongside mountain getaways in Guba and Gabala, while Uzbekistan highlighted the historic cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.

Presentations also pitched high-growth niches: ecotourism, culinary travel...

Oil and gas services firm Petrofac has announced plans to appoint administrators after the collapse of restructuring talks, threatening more than 7K jobs worldwide, including around 2K positions in Scotland.

The company told investors on Monday that it has applied to the High Court for administration following the termination of a major contract by Dutch electricity grid operator TenneT, which effectively ended efforts to stabilize its finances.

Petrofac said the move affects its main holding company, while trading operations will continue as the firm explores alternative restructuring or merger options with creditors. Corporate finance firm Teneo is expected to...

A new slang trend known as «67» is sweeping U.S. classrooms, and driving teachers to the brink. The phrase, a call-and-response where one person says «six» and others yell «seven,» has become so disruptive that schools nationwide are banning it.

The trend stems from rapper Skrilla’s song «Doot Doot (6 7)», which went viral on social media alongside memes featuring NBA star LaMelo Ball, according to Merriam-Webster. The joke has evolved into an in-class chant often paired with a «juggling» hand gesture.

Frustrated educators have resorted to creative punishments. Michigan teacher Adria Laplander now makes offenders write 67-word essays

On October 26, Uzbekistan’s National Canine Centre under the State Customs Committee hosted one of the country’s largest dog festivals. The event featured the international Dog Festival 2025 and the national dog exhibition Anor 2025, drawing dog lovers, breeders, and handlers from across Uzbekistan and beyond.

The programme included the Speciality Hunting Breeds competition, a German Shepherd championship titled Club Cup: Autumn 2025, and impressive demonstrations by customs handlers and their service dogs. Across five show rings, professional handlers presented the best examples of 40 breeds to experts and spectators.

Exotic Breeds Steal the Show

The highlight of...

Former Crystal Palace investor John Textor has lodged a £400 mln offer to buy Wolverhampton Wanderers, as pressure grows on current owners Fosun after the club’s winless start left them bottom of the Premier League.

The proposal is understood to comprise around £150 mln in cash and £262.6 mln in shares. Club sources maintain Wolves are not for sale, saying they are exploring outside investment instead.

Sunday’s injury-time defeat to Burnley sparked loud protests at Molineux, with chants aimed at both Fosun and head coach Vítor Pereira. Wolves are the only side across England’s top six divisions yet to...

The first Airbus A321XLR for Uzbek private airline Qanot Sharq has been seen leaving the paint shop at Airbus’s Finkenwerder facility near Hamburg, Germany, ahead of its planned delivery later this year.

Photos shared on social media show the jet in Qanot Sharq’s blue and white livery, complete with a logo promoting Uzbekistan. The aircraft, still bearing a temporary Airbus registration (D-AYAB), is expected to enter service before the end of 2025, marking the first A321XLR to be operated in Central Asia.

It is also the first of three A321XLRs leased by Qanot Sharq from Air Lease Corporation in...