News

Kazakhstan is preparing to prohibit the use of civil contracts as a substitute for standard employment agreements, Kursiv Media reports. The change is included in draft amendments to the Labour Code, the Social Code and the Code on Public Health and the Healthcare System, all developed by members of parliament.

The proposed reforms will be reviewed in their first reading on November 19 during a plenary session of the Mazhilis.

Labour Code: Ban on Misusing Civil Contracts

Under the amendments to the Labour Code, lawmakers aim to tighten rules on wage regulations and improve the work of conciliation...

US President Donald Trump has indicated he is open to fresh congressional sanctions against Russia, days after Hungary’s leader said he had been assured that his country could keep importing Russian crude.

Speaking to reporters at Palm Beach Airport on Sunday evening, Trump said,

“Any country that does business with Russia will be very severely sanctioned.”

He added that this was “OK” with him and suggested that Iran might also be added to upcoming measures, though he did not offer further details.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Friday that after meeting...

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled a major overhaul of the country’s asylum and immigration system, warning that Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo could face visa bans if they refuse to take back deported nationals. The proposed sanctions would block tourists, business travellers, and VIPs from entering the UK, echoing hardline measures previously used in the United States.

The reforms represent one of the most far-reaching changes to Britain’s migration policy in years. The government plans to tighten how the European Convention on Human Rights applies to asylum cases, restrict the right to family life...

Uzbek blogger Saidazim Rizayev surprised actor Will Smith with a special gift — a traditional Uzbek chapan and tubeteika.

During their meeting, the blogger not only presented the elements of the national costume but also invited the Hollywood star to visit Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia.

Before handing over the gift, Rizayev told the actor how much Smith’s films had inspired him as a child and expressed hope that he would accept the traditional attire as a gesture of respect and friendship.

«Mr. Smith, I grew up watching all your movies. This is...

Japan is working to defuse a fast-escalating dispute with China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival could prompt a military response.

Tokyo is sending Masaaki Kanai, director general of the Foreign Ministry’s Asia and Oceania bureau, to Beijing this week to meet his Chinese counterpart Liu Jinsong. Japanese media said Kanai will clarify that Takaichi’s comments do not represent a change in Japan’s security policy and will urge Beijing to avoid further damaging ties.

China has warned its citizens against travelling to Japan and strongly protested Takaichi’s remarks, with a...

Australian Paralympic gold medallist Paige Greco has died at the age of 28, BBC reports.

The para-cyclist, who won Australia’s first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, passed away on Sunday at her home in Adelaide following a “sudden medical episode,” AusCycling, the national cycling body, confirmed.

Greco’s mother, Natalie, described the family as “devastated by her loss, [but] incredibly proud of the person she was and the way she represented Australia.” She added, “Paige meant everything to us. Her kindness, determination and warmth touched our family every day.”

Early Life...

Sky Sports has closed its new female-focused TikTok channel, Halo, following criticism that its content was “patronising” and “sexist.”

In a statement on social media on Saturday evening, the broadcaster admitted it “didn’t get it right” and confirmed it would “stop all activity” on the account.

The channel, launched only on November 13, had been promoted as an “inclusive, dedicated platform for women to enjoy and explore content from all sports while amplifying female voices and perspectives.”

However, many social media users condemned the account, nicknamed the “little sister” channel, for posting content about “hot girl walks” and matcha...

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced during his visit to Uzbekistan that Astana intends to increase the transit of Russian gas to the country, according to Aqorda.

“There are also promising opportunities to expand cooperation in the oil sector and nuclear industry,” the Kazakh president added.

QazaqGaz forecasts that Russian gas transit to Uzbekistan will reach 6 bn cubic metres this year, up from 5.6 bn cubic metres in 2024. Transit of Russian fuel to Uzbekistan began in 2023 via the Central Asia–Centre pipeline. During maintenance work, around 10,000 defects were identified, of which...

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...