News

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a formal mutual defence pact on September 17, reinforcing a security partnership that has spanned decades as regional tensions intensify.

The agreement reflects mounting unease among Gulf Arab states over the reliability of the United States as their traditional security guarantor. Concerns have grown following Israel’s strike on Qatar last week.

A senior Saudi official told Reuters that the pact represented the culmination of years of talks.

«This is not a response to specific countries or specific events but an institutionalisation of longstanding and deep cooperation between our two...

Afghan authorities have started to curb the use of fibre-optic internet, according to Tasnim News. In Balkh, access to the network has already been cut under Taliban orders.

Local officials justified the decision as part of a campaign against what they called «sins.» The shutdown has disrupted services including passport offices and customs operations.

In response, six ministers travelled to Kandahar to assess the impact. Reports suggest the restrictions could be extended to other provinces.

Journalist Bilal Sarwari noted that a final decision on a nationwide ban has not yet been made. He said a dispute has emerged in...

The US Federal Reserve, the country’s main financial regulator, has lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points following its September 16–17 meeting. The rate now stands at a range of 4–4.25% per year, according to the central bank’s official statement.

This marks the first change since five consecutive meetings where the rate was held steady at 4.25–4.5%. The next policy review is scheduled for October 28–29.

In its press release, the Fed noted that economic growth slowed sharply in the first half of the year. Job creation has become less robust, and unemployment has inched higher, though it...

Meta Platforms on September 17 introduced its first consumer-ready smart glasses equipped with a built-in display, expanding on the success of its Ray-Ban line that has become one of the early hits of the artificial intelligence era.

Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg presented the Meta Ray-Ban Display and a new wristband controller at the company’s Connect event in Menlo Park, California. The audience applauded despite a few glitches during the live demonstration. Zuckerberg hailed the glasses as the ideal gateway to what he called «personal superintelligence.»

«Glasses are the ideal form factor for personal superintelligence, because...

ABC, owned by Walt Disney, announced on September 17 it was taking Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air after remarks by the late-night host about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk led to threats from the head of the top US communications regulator.

Donald Trump, who has long pressured broadcasters to curb content he dislikes, welcomed the suspension in a social media post. Democratic lawmakers, however, condemned the move, calling it an attack on free expression. The removal of Kimmel’s show is the latest in a series of actions against media figures, academics, teachers and employees whose...

On September 27, 2025, Tashkent will host Web Summit Spotlight — a special edition of one of the world’s most influential technology forums — marking the first event of its kind in the history of Central Asia. The event is organized by IT Park Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with Web Summit.

The flagship Web Summit, held annually in Lisbon, brings together more than 70,000 participants — including startup founders, executives of leading global corporations, investors, and researchers shaping the international technology agenda. The arrival of Web Summit Spotlight in Tashkent expands the global reach...

The World Bank’s project portfolio in Uzbekistan now exceeds $14 bn, according to figures shared during a meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the institution’s Global Director, Luis Felipe López-Calva.

The Bank has played a key role in helping Uzbekistan develop poverty measurement methodologies and continues to support poverty diagnostics across the country. At the meeting, proposals were put forward for a new joint initiative under the From Poverty to Prosperity programme. The project is expected to include practical measures to create jobs for women and young people, modernise urban and rural social infrastructure and expand tourism.

Uzbekistan...

A major controversy has broken out in Turkey surrounding the popular television drama Cranberry Sorbet (Kızılcık Şerbeti), aired on Show TV and consistently ranking among the nation’s most watched programmes. The uproar was triggered by a storyline in episode 104, where two central characters engage in an affair.

The plot revealed that Doga, wife of Fatih, begins a secret relationship with Firaz, who is married to Fatih’s sister, Nursema. Depiction of an illicit relationship within the same family provoked a particularly sharp reaction from Turkish audiences. The episode ended with the pair exchanging text messages, a revelation that shocked viewers.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree confirming Uzbekistan’s accession to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), with the official text published on Lex.uz.

Under the agreement, Uzbekistan will acquire more than 777,700 shares in the bank’s authorised capital. Of this allocation, 21.7% will be paid shares while the remaining 78.3% will be callable. Each share has a value of $1,000. The Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade has been appointed as the body responsible for purchasing the shares, using funds allocated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance this year, and from the state budget from 2026 onwards.

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has claimed that international laboratory tests on samples taken from her husband confirm he was poisoned, Reuters reports.

Navalny, who was 47, died on February 16, 2024 in a prison in the Arctic Circle, a loss that stripped Russia’s opposition of its most prominent and influential figure. Navalnaya has repeatedly accused the Russian authorities of being behind his death, while the Kremlin has dismissed such accusations as unfounded.

In a video message shared on X, Navalnaya said that biological material had been smuggled out of Russia last year...

Uzbekistan aims to bring its poverty rate down to 6% by the close of 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced at the third international forum on poverty reduction, From Poverty to Prosperity, held in Namangan.

The president highlighted that poverty stood at 8.9% in 2024, but reforms and programmes have already helped lift 7.5 mln people out of hardship in recent years.

He stressed that tackling poverty has become a state priority. Over the past eight years Uzbekistan has generated new jobs, increased household incomes and improved living standards, particularly for young people and women. A central tool in...

Uzbekistan has reinforced its position as one of Central Asia’s most dynamic economies in 2025, with the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) highlighting the country’s strong growth, rising investment inflows and expanding trade volumes.

According to the EDB’s September 2025 review, Uzbekistan’s GDP rose by 6.3%, one of the fastest growth rates across the region. This placed the country ahead of Kazakhstan, which posted a growth rate of 4.6%, and Kyrgyzstan, which grew by 4.4%. Armenia and Tajikistan also performed well, with growth rates of 7.1% and 6.7% respectively, but Uzbekistan remains notable for the scale of its economy and...

FIA has confirmed the race start times and full calendar for the 2026 Formula 1 season, a 24-race campaign that begins in Melbourne from March 6–8 and ends in Abu Dhabi on December 4–6.

The season will mark a new era for the sport, with next-generation cars powered entirely by sustainable fuels, the arrival of new manufacturers including Audi, Cadillac and Ford, and the debut of Madrid as a Grand Prix venue.

The geographical flow of the season has been improved, with Canada now following Miami to create a consolidated European leg during the summer. Six race weekends...

Aryna Sabalenka has pulled out of the China Open after sustaining an injury during her successful US Open title defence, organisers confirmed on September 17.

The Belarusian star defeated Amanda Anisimova earlier this month to claim her second consecutive US Open crown and her fourth Grand Slam overall. She had reached the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing last year.

«I am sad to announce my withdrawal from the China Open this year after sustaining a small injury after the US Open,» Sabalenka said in a statement released by organisers. «I am going...

Uzbekistan has completed the rollout of its ‘Export in Three Steps’ digital system on railway transport, streamlining export procedures and reducing costs for businesses.

Previously operating in test mode, the system has already proven effective, with 5% of all railway export declarations processed through it in the first eight months of 2025.

The new approach reduces customs procedures from nine stages to just three, enabling entrepreneurs to save an estimated 15–20 bn soums ($1.2-1.6 mln) annually on customs brokerage services.

The system automatically generates cargo customs declarations and invoice documents based on export contracts, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Once...

Juventus staged a dramatic comeback in their Champions League opener on September 16, drawing 4-4 at home to Borussia Dortmund after a stoppage-time surge inspired by substitute Dusan Vlahovic. All eight goals arrived in the second half of a breathless contest at the Allianz Stadium.

The Italian side were trailing 4-2 deep into added time when Vlahovic struck his second goal of the night in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Moments later, the Serbian turned provider, delivering a cross for Lloyd Kelly to head home and complete an improbable comeback. A lengthy VAR review for offside delayed the...

More football clubs than ever before are set to receive financial rewards from the FIFA World Cup as FIFA prepares to roll out an enhanced version of the Club Benefits Programme (CBP) for its 2026 men’s competition.

Under the renewed memorandum of understanding signed with the European Club Association (ECA) in March 2023, FIFA confirmed that $355 mln will be shared among clubs releasing players for the World Cup.

For the first time, the scheme will also cover players involved in World Cup 2026 qualifiers, ensuring that every club contributing talent to the process receives direct compensation. This adjustment...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has reviewed the first year of implementing the We-Finance Code initiative. Uzbekistan is the first country in the region to introduce a National Regulation on the «Financial Code for Women Entrepreneurs.»

In 2024, a memorandum of understanding was signed between EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and Chair of the Senate of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva. The agreement included the We-Finance Code, with the Central Bank of Uzbekistan appointed as the coordinator. The initiative provides women entrepreneurs with access to grants and international training programmes.

Central Bank has now implemented all core measures and created a national framework...

The global box office enjoyed another surprise boost in September as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle stormed cinemas with a record-breaking debut.

Sony-owned Crunchyroll released the Japanese anime sequel across 3,315 theatres in the United States and Canada, where it grossed $70 mln, including $33 mln on Friday alone. This makes it the biggest North American opening ever for an anime title, Sony’s strongest launch in recent memory and the largest September animated debut on record.

Internationally, the film brought in $49 mln from 49 additional markets, giving it a weekend global total of $132.1 mln...

At a plenary session, deputies of Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber approved in the first reading a draft law introducing Islamic banking.

The bill proposes amendments to the Tax Code, Civil Code and other regulations. It defines key concepts such as «Islamic bank», «financial operations and standards» and «investment deposit».

The legislation would establish a licensing system for Islamic banking activities and outline the requirements for obtaining such a licence. It also specifies which financial operations banks with these licences may conduct.

According to MPs, the initiative aims to develop alternative financial services alongside traditional ones and to improve financial accessibility...

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared on X that «Gaza is burning», saying the IDF was striking Hamas «with an iron fist». Overnight bombardments killed at least 40 people, according to Gaza health officials, with tanks and air strikes reported across several districts.

Columns of civilians fled Gaza City towards the south and west, many on foot or in carts, Reuters reports.

«They are wiping out our memories,» said Abu Tamer, a 70-year-old man escaping with his family.

Others said they had no choice but to remain, with one resident calling it «escaping...

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers edged the Houston Texans 20-19 at NRG Stadium, sealing victory with Rachaad White’s late touchdown. Baker Mayfield threw for 215 yards and two scores as Tampa Bay finished with 360 yards of total offence.

But the game itself was quickly overshadowed online. A photo showing four bulky Texans offensive linemen sitting side by side on the bench, all wearing matching dark visors and intense expressions, went viral on X (formerly Twitter). Fans dubbed it one of the most intimidating looks in football, though many pointed out the irony: despite their imposing presence, the Texans still fell...

Apple has officially unveiled iOS 26, moving away from its traditional flat interface in favour of a ‘liquid glass’ design. The new look uses translucent panels that layer over each other, blending smoothly into the background.

The same design language has been applied to iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS, creating a more unified experience across Apple devices.

Apple Intelligence at the Core

The most significant update is Apple Intelligence. In Messages and phone calls, conversations can now be translated in real time. FaceTime has gained live subtitles and instant voice translation, making cross-language communication easier.

Owners of...

The organisers of Coachella have announced the headline acts for the 2026 festival, set to run on 10–12 and 17–19 April in Indio, California. Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Karol G and Anyma will top the bill.

All four artists are no strangers to the desert stage. Carpenter performed last year, Karol G appeared in 2022 alongside Becky G and J Balvin, and Bieber has made four guest appearances over the years. Anyma, the multimedia project by Matteo Milleri, played in 2024 and is set to deliver a special production experience similar to last year’s Travis Scott showcase. Earlier this...