News

Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel has dissolved parliament and announced fresh elections for March 5, 2026, following a week of unrest that left 51 people dead and over 1,300 injured. The decision came only hours after Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister, making her the first woman to lead the country.

The move followed the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who stepped down after fierce anti-corruption demonstrations led largely by Generation Z. The protests, triggered by a temporary social media ban, were the most violent the country has faced in...

Uzbekistan’s property market saw 25,000 homes sold in August, a monthly decline of 4.6% but a 13% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR).

The highest number of deals was recorded in Syrdarya, Khorezm and Surkhandarya regions. Prices on the secondary market rose by 1% in a month and by 4% over the year. In the capital, however, property prices fell by 2.3% in August, with only a marginal increase of 0.2% year-on-year.

Rental costs in Tashkent held steady last month, with the average rate at $8 per square...

Uzbekistan has officially confirmed for the first time that a citizen has lived to the age of 130. The record belongs to Huvaydo Umarova (Toshmatova) from the Fergana region. According to newly issued documents, she was born on January 1, 1895 in the Buvayda district.

The remarkable story came to light during the Ministry of Justice’s campaign «No Person Left Without Documents.» When local justice officials visited the Korakum mahalla, they discovered Umarova had never been issued a birth certificate. A district court then held a special session on site to formally recognise her birth and legalise the record.

On September 12, the UN General Assembly in New York adopted a declaration calling for the creation of a Palestinian state while condemning the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. A total of 142 countries voted in favour, including Uzbekistan.

Ten states opposed the declaration, among them the United States, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga. Another 12 abstained, including Spain, Costa Rica, Cameroon, South Sudan and North Macedonia.

Although the resolution carries no binding legal force, its adoption paves the way for possible official recognition of a Palestinian state during the Assembly’s session...

A 22-year-old from Utah has been arrested over the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University earlier this week.

Tyler Robinson was taken into custody late on Thursday, September 11, after a 33-hour manhunt. His arrest came after his father persuaded him to surrender with the help of a family friend, a youth pastor.

The arrest was first announced by President Donald Trump, who called for Robinson to face the death penalty.

Confession to His Father

Investigators said Robinson confessed to his father and at first threatened to...

The father of Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina, was unable to attend her funeral due to Ukraine’s wartime ban on men of fighting age leaving the country.

Stanislav Zarutskyi was described as «devastated» at being unable to say goodbye to his 20-year-old daughter, who emigrated to the United States with her mother and siblings three years ago after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Iryna’s alleged attacker, identified as Decarlos Brown Jr., is a homeless repeat offender now facing murder charges.

The killing, captured on CCTV, has sparked outrage in the U.S. and...

Miss Grand Uzbekistan 2023 Amaliya Shakirova is expecting her first child and plans to deliver in the Philippines, where she and her husband, Carlos Alberto «Chuck» De Jesus Oreta, are building their life together.

The 2023 Miss Grand International semifinalist revealed she is in her third trimester and expecting a baby girl in November. She recently shared maternity photos on social media, captured by several photographers, including Doc Marlon, Rob Leung, and Dom Cruz.

Shakirova, who runs a cosmetic dentistry business in Manila, married Oreta in January 2025 after six years of dating. The couple first met at an event...

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister has called on countries that seized helicopters during the collapse of the former government to return them, stressing they are urgently needed for humanitarian use.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with diplomats and international organisations, Amir Khan Muttaqi also pressed for sanctions to be lifted and highlighted the difficulties caused by restrictions on the country’s banking system.

Muttaqi urged neighbouring states to return the aircraft, saying:

«We ask those countries that, four years ago following political developments, took part of our helicopters and transferred them to neighbouring countries...

A newly uncovered malware strain dubbed ModStealer is targeting cryptocurrency users across macOS, Windows and Linux, according to security researchers.

Apple-focused firm Mosyle revealed the malware, noting it went undetected by major antivirus tools for nearly a month after being uploaded to VirusTotal. ModStealer is designed to steal private keys, browser-based wallet extensions, certificates and credentials, persisting on macOS by registering as a background agent. Researchers believe its infrastructure is routed through Germany to conceal the operators’ origins.

The malware is being spread through fake job ads — a tactic increasingly used to target Web3 developers. Once installed, it...

Africa has its first Bitcoin treasury firm, with South Africa’s Altvest Capital rebranding as Africa Bitcoin Corporation (ABC) and debuting on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

The company plans to raise $210 mln to purchase Bitcoin through share offerings and debt notes, positioning itself alongside global players such as the UK’s Smarter Web Company. ABC has so far raised 11 million rand ($633,000) in its first funding phase.

Chairman Stafford Masie and CEO Warren Wheatley said Bitcoin offers a unique solution for African economies, where inflation, currency devaluation and limited financial access remain pressing issues

...

The Smarter Web Company, the UK’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, is considering acquiring struggling competitors to expand its digital asset reserves, CEO Andrew Webley said.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Webley confirmed he would «certainly consider» buying rivals’ Bitcoin holdings at a discount. The company, which holds 2,470 BTC worth nearly $275 mln, ranks as the world’s 25th-largest Bitcoin treasury, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET.

Despite a 22% drop in its share price on Friday, falling from $2.01 to $1.85, Webley said Smarter Web still aspires to join the FTSE 100 index. He also suggested a company rebrand was «inevitable.»

Analysts...

The man accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, told his family he attacked her because he believed she was reading his mind, according to his sister.

Tracey Brown, who herself was assaulted by her brother in 2022, described Decarlos Brown Jr as a paranoid schizophrenic who often claimed the government had implanted a chip in him. She said his mental health had deteriorated since leaving prison in 2022, when he struggled to hold conversations, became aggressive and failed to maintain steady work.

Disturbing Jailhouse Claims

In a phone...

Italy has urged Israel to respect the rights of its citizens aboard a pro-Palestinian flotilla after one of the vessels was reportedly struck by incendiary devices in Tunisian waters.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told parliament on Thursday that Rome is closely monitoring the convoy and providing diplomatic assistance to the 58 Italian nationals involved, including several lawmakers.

«Our embassy in Tel Aviv, under my instruction, talked to the Israeli authorities about the respect of the rights for all the fellow citizens who are part of the flotilla,» Tajani said, adding that he also raised the issue directly with Israeli Foreign...

Chinese investors are preparing to establish industrial parks worth $2.1 bn in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region, according to figures presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a meeting on the region’s development.

Under a presidential decree, more than 40 trln soums ($3.2 bn) will be directed to the area over the next two years. Officials expect this to help bring unemployment down to 4.5% by the end of the year. Over the past eight years, the region has attracted $18 bn in investment, including $8 bn channelled into industrial projects. A further $2.5 bn worth of investment schemes have also...

UEFA has announced a late amendment to its competition regulations less than a week before the Champions League kicks off. Clubs will now be permitted to temporarily replace one outfield player who suffers a long-term injury or illness during the group stage.

The governing body said the change was introduced to ensure «squad lists are not unfairly reduced» and to protect players from additional workload.

English Clubs Among Those to Benefit

A record six Premier League sides are taking part in this season’s Champions League. Chelsea could now replace Liam Delap, sidelined with a hamstring injury, with Facundo Buononotte...

Football analysts at Goal.com have assessed the prospects of all teams heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Uzbekistan making the list as they prepare for their first-ever finals.

Placed 25th out of 27, Uzbekistan enter the tournament as outsiders, but their qualification journey and recent form have inspired confidence among players and fans alike.

A Historic First Qualification

Uzbekistan secured their place after years of near-misses and disappointments. Qualification was anything but smooth: coach Srecko Katanec stepped down in January due to illness, leaving former national midfielder Timur Kapadze to complete the campaign. He did so...

Uzbekistan’s business climate is showing steady improvement, supported by stronger domestic demand and rising employment expectations, according to the latest survey by the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR).

The August business climate index stood at 55 points, up two from the previous year. Current activity was the main driver of growth, with the current business climate index climbing to 49 points, ten higher than a year earlier. While expectations dipped slightly from 67 to 62 points, they remain at a high level, reflecting business confidence in the months ahead.

Entrepreneurs Report Stronger Demand

Survey results highlight optimism...

A trade house dedicated to textiles from Uzbekistan’s Andijan region has officially opened in the American city of St Louis, Missouri.

The centre will specialise in the sale and display of garments produced in Andijan, serving both as a showroom for ready-to-wear fashion and as a permanent venue for meetings with local and international partners.

The opening ceremony was attended by Shukhratbek Abdurakhmonov, Mayor of Andijan region, along with Saidakzim Burkhankhojaev, Executive Director of ITF Group LLC, as well as Uzbek entrepreneurs and business representatives.

St Louis, known as one of the largest logistics hubs in the United States, offers...

Uzbekistan is increasingly setting the pace for economic growth and integration in Central Asia, with fresh data showing it outstripping its neighbours in trade expansion and structural reform, even as Kazakhstan retains its status as the region’s largest economy. The findings come from a recent report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) on India and Central Asia’s economic ties.

Strong Growth and Rising Trade

In 2023 Uzbekistan recorded GDP growth of 5.5%, one of the highest in the region, second only to Tajikistan’s 8.3%. By contrast, Kazakhstan, which accounts for 60% of Central Asia’s total GDP, posted growth...

The market enthusiasm for Mini-Labubu, the new toy line from Chinese company Pop Mart, has cooled, raising questions among collectors about its long-term value, Bloomberg reports.

Figures from resale platforms show that prices for the latest Mini-Labubu toys dropped by 24% in just two weeks. This stands in sharp contrast to their near-instant sell-out when sales opened at the end of August. Data from one Chinese online marketplace revealed that half of users now expect Mini-Labubu prices to fall further, compared with 38% who hold the same view about the original Labubu toys.

Pop Mart Remains Optimistic

Pop...

US authorities have released photos and footage of a man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, along with details of the weapon believed to have been used.

Kirk, a 31-year-old author, broadcaster and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, around 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. The attack, which Trump called a «heinous assassination», occurred in front of 3,000 people during Kirk’s campus debate series titled Prove Me Wrong.

Suspect Captured on CCTV

Officials said the...

Albania has appointed the world’s first artificial intelligence–powered minister, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Thursday.

The virtual minister, called Diella, meaning «sunshine» in Albanian, will oversee all public procurement. Rama said the move aims to make tenders «100 percent incorruptible» and ensure transparency in the use of public funds.

Unveiled at the Socialist Party assembly in Tirana, Diella is not a human official but an AI system with a digital avatar dressed in traditional Albanian clothing. She already powers the country’s e-Albania platform, which citizens use to access government services online.

Rama added that Diella would evaluate tenders...

The only son of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong will begin his mandatory military service next week as a naval officer candidate, the company said Wednesday.

Lee Jee-ho, born in the United States in 2000, has given up his U.S. citizenship to serve in South Korea. His service will last 39 months, starting Monday.

Samsung said he is expected to be commissioned as a Navy ensign on Dec. 1.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to complete at least 18 months of military service.

Lee Jae-yong, often called the «crown prince of Samsung,» officially became chairman of the...

Peter Mandelson has been dismissed as Britain’s ambassador to the United States after newly leaked emails revealed the depth of his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Foreign minister Stephen Doughty told MPs the correspondence showed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was «materially different from that known at the time of his appointment» last year. The emails also suggested Mandelson believed Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged.

The revelations prompted swift backlash in Westminster. Conservative shadow minister Neil O’Brien called it «an extraordinary error of judgement by this prime minister,» while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir...