News

Germany is sounding the alarm over a worsening drug crisis. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) chief Holger Münch, and Federal Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck have warned that hard narcotics are spreading rapidly across the country.

At the presentation of two new reports on organised crime and drug trafficking, Dobrindt declared: «We have a massive drug problem in Germany.» He pointed to a clear trend towards stronger substances, noting that trade in ecstasy, crystal meth and cocaine rose by double-digit percentages in 2024. Over the past five years, cocaine-related offences alone have increased by nearly 45%.

Microsoft is set to make gaming history by releasing one of its most recognisable franchises on a rival console. For the first time, Halo — the legendary sci-fi shooter led by the armoured hero Master Chief — will arrive on Sony’s PlayStation 5 next year.

The upcoming release, titled Halo: Campaign Evolved, is a remake of the 2001 classic Halo: Combat Evolved. It will also be available on Xbox consoles, PC, and through Microsoft’s cloud streaming service for mobile devices and tablets.

The move marks a significant shift in Microsoft’s gaming strategy, signalling a departure from the long-standing tradition...

Uzbekistan is preparing to sign a series of agreements with Hong Kong aimed at promoting investment and strengthening economic ties, according to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.

On October 24, Deputy Minister Shokhrukh Gulyamov met with Alpha Lau, Head of Invest Hong Kong, the city’s investment promotion agency. The two sides discussed opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

Key topics included the development of agreements on avoiding double taxation and ensuring mutual protection of investments. The parties also explored the possibility of launching direct flights between Tashkent and Hong Kong.

Discussions further touched on plans...

Dubai Taxi Company PJSC has announced plans to hire around 700 drivers from Uzbekistan. Representatives of Uzbekistan’s consulate in Dubai met with the company’s management to discuss employment terms and areas of cooperation.

According to company head Said Amin Abdulrahman, the first phase will involve recruiting 200 drivers, followed by an additional 500 at a later stage. During the meeting, both sides also discussed the candidate selection process, documentation procedures and compliance with labour regulations.

The Uzbek Consulate General noted that Uzbekistan already operates dedicated driver training programmes, which include language courses and lessons on transport ethics.

Following the...

The Government of Uzbekistan and the United Nations have signed the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2026–2030. The signing ceremony took place at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent.

The new Framework aims to advance human development, reduce inequality and ensure that everyone benefits from the nation’s progress. Over the next five years, it will guide the strategic work of 25 UN agencies, funds and programmes supporting Uzbekistan’s national development goals and priorities.

The Cooperation Framework outlines six main areas of collaboration: effective governance and justice, decent work and social protection, quality healthcare and well-being...

Uzbekistan will see the development of modern warehouse facilities through the creation of the first specialised investment funds in Central Asia. During the Central Asia Warehouse Summit (CAWS 2025) held in Almaty, IBC Global announced the launch of two major funds with a combined value exceeding $250 mln.

The first, Eurasian Warehouse REIT OEIC Ltd., is being established with the participation of TG Global (Tansar Capital Group). It aims to raise $75 mln, offering an expected return of 18–22% over an investment period of six years with a possible two-year extension. The fund will focus primarily on Kazakhstan (70%) and...

US Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Ambassador Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau have arrived in Tashkent to discuss trade and investment in critical minerals and energy, as well as regional cooperation under the C5+1 framework.

During their visit, the American diplomats are set to meet with senior government officials to explore a wide range of issues, including economic collaboration, regional security and the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two nations.

The United States reaffirmed its commitment to deepening partnerships across Central Asia and expressed its intention to expand trade and economic ties...

Imax has reported record third quarter results, driven by the box office success of F1: The Movie. The racing drama, which used Imax cameras to capture its high-speed action scenes and prominently featured the brand in its marketing, earned $97 mln globally on Imax screens, making it the company’s top-performing release of the year so far.

The strong performance was further supported by other summer and early autumn titles, including the anime hit Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, horror films Weapons and The Conjuring: Last Rites. Imax’s revenue rose 17% year-on-year to $106.6 mln, while net income increased by...

Queen Sirikit, the mother of Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn, has died at the age of 93.

According to the Thai Royal Household Bureau, she passed away peacefully at 21:21 local time (14:21 GMT) on Friday in a Bangkok hospital. The statement noted that the Queen had suffered from several health issues since being admitted in 2019, including a recent blood infection.

For more than sixty years, Queen Sirikit was married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, who passed away in 2016. King Vajiralongkorn has instructed the Royal Household Bureau to organise a royal funeral, and her body will lie...

Uzbekistan has made significant progress in tackling air pollution. In 2024, it became the first country in Central Asia to align its national standards for harmful PM2.5 particles with the World Health Organization’s target indicators, according to the 2025 State of Global Air report.

The new permissible level of PM2.5 is now set at 35 micrograms per cubic metre — the minimum threshold recommended by the WHO for countries with high pollution levels. By comparison, nations with the cleanest air, such as Finland and Iceland, record average PM2.5 concentrations below 5 µg/m³.

To improve air quality control, Uzbekistan has...

Uzbekistan’s historic city of Samarkand will host the UNESCO General Assembly from October 30 to November 13, 2025, marking the first time in four decades that the event is held outside Paris.

The last session outside France took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1985. Bringing the Assembly to Samarkand underscores both the city’s global cultural significance and Uzbekistan’s growing role in international cooperation on education, science, and culture.

Home to landmarks such as the Registan, Ulugbek Observatory, and Shahi-Zinda Mausoleum, Samarkand stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the Silk Road’s legacy of cultural exchange.

Uzbekistan is expanding cooperation with UNESCO to accelerate reforms in education, science, culture, and innovation, officials said. The country joined UNESCO in 1993 and opened a UNESCO office in Tashkent in 1996, establishing a national commission to coordinate joint projects.

Tashkent is now moving toward accession to UNESCO’s Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, a step aimed at easing diploma recognition, expanding academic mobility, and improving graduate employability. Uzbekistan has already ratified the 1960 Convention against Discrimination in Education and acceded to the 1989 Convention on Technical and Vocational Education.

Nine UNESCO Chairs operate across...

Uzbekistan and the European Union have officially wrapped up bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking a major step toward full membership, according to the Special Representative of the President on WTO issues, Azizbek Urunov.

The announcement was made during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Brussels. Urunov highlighted that the talks, covering market access, tariffs, and trade in services, represented over two years of «active negotiations, dialogue, and joint work.»

The EU thus becomes the 31st party with which Uzbekistan has successfully completed WTO accession talks, following Panama’s accession last week. Only three...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) has released updated forecasts pointing to continued economic expansion facilitated by a tightening of monetary policy and declining inflationary pressure.

In its latest guidance, the CBU anticipates headline inflation to fall to around 7 % by end-2026, driven by reduced external inflation shocks and a firming exchange rate. Trend Real GDP growth is expected to remain strong, reaching approximately 7–7.5 % for 2025.

The bank has also maintained its policy rate at 14 % per annum, citing the dual need to temper aggregate demand and anchor...

Nike has unveiled Project Amplify, described as the world’s first powered footwear system. The new technology is not built for elite runners but for everyday users who want to run or walk faster with less effort.

Developed with robotics firm Dephy, the system works like pedal assist on an e-bike, using a lightweight motor and drive belt to provide an extra push — effectively acting as a second set of calf muscles.

The sleek, ankle-brace-like device includes a rechargeable battery and is designed for people running at a 10–12-minute mile pace. Nike said over 400 athletes have tested prototypes...

Uzbekistan’s inflation fell to 8% in September 2025, down 0.8 percentage points from the previous month, the Central Bank reports. The slowdown was driven by the stronger soum and tight monetary policy.

Food and non-food inflation eased to 6.1%, helping to reduce overall prices, though service inflation stayed high due to strong consumer demand. Core inflation also declined to 7%.

The regulator noted that the firm exchange rate supported price stability, particularly for imported goods. A growing share of goods and services is now showing slower price growth, signalling broader price stabilisation.

Inflation expectations among households and businesses are...

Meghan Markle has shared a glimpse into her relaxed home life, revealing that she welcomes guests to her Montecito residence barefoot and wearing an apron.

Speaking during a livestream event at Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland, California, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex said her informal approach helps visitors feel instantly at ease.

«It demystifies,» she explained. «People walk in and go, ‘Oh, she’s in this with me.’»

Instead of offering a traditional cup of tea, Meghan prefers to keep warm cider or hot toddies simmering on the stove, encouraging guests to help themselves while...

Another day, another AI headline, this time from Krafton, the studio behind PUBG. The company has announced a sweeping «AI-first» transformation, investing more than 100 billion won ($72 mln) into advanced «Agentic AI» systems and automation tools designed to handle repetitive tasks and analytics.

Krafton says the move will allow developers to focus on creativity and innovation. It plans to build a massive GPU cluster using NVIDIA’s B300 chips and aims to have its AI platform fully operational by 2026. The company also pledged 30 bn won ($22 mln) annually to help employees experiment with AI.

Not everyone...

Lionel Messi is the odds-on favourite to win his second MLS MVP award this season, after what many analysts call the best individual campaign in league history.

The Inter Miami star claimed both the Golden Boot and the assist title despite missing nearly a quarter of the season, setting new records for non-penalty goals and total goal contributions. Advanced analytics ranked his performance well above every other player in MLS, surpassing even Carlos Vela’s landmark 2019 season.

Yet, despite Messi’s dominance, his influence on the league’s broader popularity remains debatable. Attendance has dropped by 5.5% compared to last year...

On October 24 in Brussels, a ceremony was held to sign the Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union, attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The new document replaces the 1996 partnership agreement, providing a modern and broader legal framework for cooperation. Negotiations began in 2019 and concluded in 2022, with the text formally initialled in Brussels that July.

Comprising nine sections, 356 articles, and 14 annexes, the agreement covers nearly all areas of bilateral relations. It aims to strengthen political dialogue...

During his official visit to Belgium, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held a roundtable with senior executives from leading European companies and banks, including Linde, SUEZ, Commerzbank, the European Investment Bank, and others. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also took part.

The President said the participation of major European firms reflected mutual trust and a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation. He noted that the upcoming Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU would mark a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Over the past seven years, Uzbekistan’s trade with the EU has doubled, and the number of...

Uzbekistan’s economy continued to expand at a strong pace in the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from the Central Bank. Backed by steady investment and business activity, the regulator expects annual GDP growth to reach around 7–7.5%.

Rising household incomes and an increase in retail lending have supported consumer spending, which in turn could sustain inflationary pressures in the months ahead. The Bank also noted potential secondary effects from the liberalisation of energy prices and risks linked to supply constraints for certain goods.

In response, the Central Bank said it would maintain a tight monetary policy...

AI startup Anthropic is deepening its partnership with Google, securing access to as many as one mln of the tech giant’s AI chips. The deal is valued in the tens of billions of dollars.

The agreement, announced October 23, will provide Anthropic with over one GW of computing power from 2026 to train future versions of its Claude AI model using Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs), previously reserved mainly for internal use.

Anthropic said it chose TPUs for their cost efficiency and performance, as well as its positive track record using them to build and deploy Claude models.

Google...

Porsche is set to post a major quarterly loss as CEO Oliver Blume ends his ten-year tenure. The company faces a sharp decline in China, rising US tariffs, and mounting costs from its troubled shift to electric vehicles, Reuters reports.

Michael Leiters, former McLaren boss, will take over in January. Investors hope he can revive demand in China and guide Porsche through its EV challenges, though confidence remains weak.

Analysts expect a €611 mln operating loss for the third quarter, compared with a €974 mln profit last year, largely due to €1.8 bn in EV-related costs.

Blume predicts recovery...