News

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the war in Ukraine during a phone call. This was revealed by Trump in an interview with the New York Post.

According to Trump, President Putin is concerned about the loss of soldiers’ lives.

During the interview, Trump stated that he has a plan to end the fighting. Addressing his National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, he said:

“Let’s start these meetings. They want to meet. People are dying every day.”

In his conversation with journalists, the US leader reminded them that the war began during President...

Elon Musk, the American billionaire, has confirmed that he will not be acquiring TikTok. He made this statement during his speech at the WELT Economic Summit, as reported by the platform’s press service.

Earlier, media reports had suggested that Musk was a likely candidate to purchase the social media giant’s assets in the US. Bloomberg later revealed that the Chinese authorities had discussed the possibility of selling TikTok to Musk.

On January 19, TikTok’s US operations were temporarily suspended. However, US President Donald Trump subsequently assured TikTok’s owners that they would be given more time to secure a...

Hamburg’s Land Court has ruled in favour of representatives of Alisher Usmanov, prohibiting the Tagesspiegel newspaper from spreading false claims about the billionaire. This was reported by EU Today.

The case relates to an article titled “Fan of Germany and Putin’s Friend: Who is Russian Oligarch Alisher Usmanov?” published in November 2024. After a protest from the billionaire’s lawyers, the article was removed, but journalists continued to circulate several statements from it.

For instance, the publication claimed that the billionaire acquired the largest assets of the Soviet economy for a fraction of their value.

According to Usmanov, he did not participate in...

Rovshan Omarov, a deputy of the Derbent City Assembly and, by extension, the owner of a greenhouse business, was arrested by law enforcement for organising illegal immigration. The investigation was reported by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Dagestan.

Investigators believe that Omarov, along with an accomplice, housed four foreign workers (citizens of Uzbekistan and China) at his property last year.

The migrants worked in Omarov’s greenhouses in the village of Rukel without having the right to stay in the country or permission to work. Dagestani media report that they were not...

In 2024, Uzbekistan exported 17,900 tonnes of turnips worth $4.6 mln. Kazakhstan emerged as the primary buyer of the root vegetable, according to the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan.

Over the year, Kazakhstan imported nearly 9,400 tonnes of Uzbek turnips. The top three buyers also included Kyrgyzstan (almost 4,700 tonnes of turnips) and Russia (3,500 tonnes of turnips).

Additionally, Uzbekistan sold 340 tonnes of turnips to Belarus. Other countries accounted for less than 0.2% of total exports.

The first stage of construction of the Esim Canal in Karakalpakstan has been completed, as repoted by the press service of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic.

A decree from the President of Uzbekistan is carrying out this construction. Voris China has been allocated 19.2 bn soums to complete this initial canal construction stage.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the railroad has connected the cities of Urgench in the Khorezm region and Kungrad in Karakalpakstan.

Uzbekistani player Abdukodir Khusanov changed the course of the match against Leyton Orient on February 8 by equalising in the 56th minute, following an own goal that had put his team at a disadvantage.

In the 1/16 finals of the FA Cup, Manchester City defeated Leyton Orient 2-1 on their opponent’s home ground. Manchester City trailed in the first half due to an own goal scored by their goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega.

In the second half, Khusanov, who had entered the game after halftime, scored his first goal for the team by directing a pass from Rico Lewis into the Leyton...

As of February 1, the total value of Uzbekistan’s reserve assets reached $42.9 bn, representing an increase of $1.7 bn from the previous month, according to the country’s Central Bank.

The regulator noted that the value of gold in the national reserves rose by $3.02 bn, bringing the total to $35 bn. The volume of gold reserves increased from 382.57 tons (12.3 mln troy ounces) to 391.9 tons (12.6 mln troy ounces).

Conversely, the country’s foreign exchange reserves decreased by $1.2 bn, to $7.2 bn.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that, according to Bloomberg, the price of gold may...

There has been a significant failure in the electronic tax services system, as reported on local social networks.

Users are experiencing difficulties scanning receipts in the Soliq application and accessing other services.

The Tax Committee of Uzbekistan has stated that specialists are working to resolve these technical issues.

“The system will be restored to normal operation soon,” the committee’s press service reported.

Additionally, Kursiv Uzbekistan notes that in 2024, residents of Uzbekistan received nearly one trillion soums in cashback.

A federal court in the United States has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump‘s plan to recall employees of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as reported by The Hill.

As a result, Trump will be unable to recall 2,200 USAID employees currently stationed abroad and place them on administrative leave. The court also ordered the reinstating of approximately 500 agency employees who had previously been suspended.

American trade unions representing diplomatic workers and civil servants had earlier called for Trump’s decision regarding USAID to be cancelled.

In early February, businessman Elon Musk and the head of the...

UEFA is discussing the possibility of eliminating extra time in the Champions League playoffs and replacing it with a penalty shootout, as reported The Guardian. This consideration arises from concerns that top clubs are already playing too many matches, and adding an additional 30 minutes on the pitch contributes to player fatigue, especially given the busy schedule of Champions League games.

Implementing such rule changes during the current TV rights sales cycle until 2027 is unlikely. The topic is still in informal discussions, with no concrete solutions in place. If approved, this change could help alleviate the congested calendar...

Power engineers have accused a Samarkand firm of an unjustified debt amounting to three billion soums, according to the Committee for the Development of Competition and Consumer Rights Protection.

Siralish Meva, who operates a vegetable-growing business registered in the Samarkand district, submitted a complaint against the Samarkand branch of JSC Regional Electric Networks.

An inspection confirmed that the debt was unwarranted. The committee’s staff provided legal guidance and instructed the energy company to recalculate the debt and prevent similar violations from occurring in the future.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports on the marketplaces that have received the most complaints...

According to Uzhydromet, forecasters predict temperatures ranging from +10 to +15°C in Uzbekistan on Saturday, February 8. Northern regions will experience temperatures between -3 and +2°C.

Winds in some areas may increase to 15-20 m/s, which corresponds to seven to eight points on the Beaufort scale out of a maximum of 12.

Khorezm and the desert regions of Bukhara and Navoi Oblasts are expected to see rain, while snow may occur in certain areas.

The forecast in Tashkent indicates temperatures between +13 and +15°C, with possible light rain.

Mountainous regions are likely to experience rain and snow, and there...

Based on data from the IQAir platform, on the morning of February 8, air pollution levels in Tashkent were reported to exceed normal limits by ten times.

Uzbekistan’s capital ranked 17th in a list of cities with the highest levels of harmful substances in the atmosphere.

In Tashkent, the air is contaminated with fine particles known as PM2.5, composed of dust, asphalt, and car tyre residue.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that air pollution levels in Tashkent on February 7.

Uzbekistan is set to expand the powers of National Guard officers, with changes being made to the Administrative Code of the Republic, as reported by the Ministry of Justice.

Specifically, employees from the National Guard’s Department for Work with Children will now have the authority to handle administrative cases and impose penalties on juvenile offenders.

The Ministry of Justice stated that this measure is intended to strengthen efforts to prevent crime among children and adolescents.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that 3,600 mahallas (38.5%) in Uzbekistan have recorded a zero crime rate.

Since the beginning of 2024, consumers in Uzbekistan have received over 1 trillion soums in cashback for 1 bn checks, as reported by the press service of the State Tax Committee.

In December alone, 89.2 bn soums were confirmed. Tashkent residents received the highest amount of cashback, 412.2 bn soums.

The distribution of cashback in various regions is as follows: Tashkent region received 107.1 billion soums, Samarkand region received 93.2 bn soums, Fergana region received 75.6 bn soums, and Andijan region received 52 bn soums.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that major tech companies, including Meta, Google and Amazon...

Uzbek soccer clubs Navbahor Lochinlari, Neftchi, Sogdiana and Gizzah Star Boston must pay off their debts to coaches and players.

The Committee on the Status and Transition of Football Players of the Football Association of Uzbekistan provided this information.

The Committee reviewed the clubs to ensure compliance with the rights and contractual obligations owed to players and coaches, as reported by the agency’s press service. The Committee aimed to prevent FIFA sanctions.

The inspection revealed that Navbahor Lochinlari owes money to the coach, players of both the men’s and women’s teams, and members of the futsal team.

Neftchi has...

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree awarding Bakhrom Raupov, the founder of Surkhon Sandwich Company, the Dustlik Order.

Raupov received this honour for his significant contributions to the welfare of residents in the Surkhandarya region, the introduction of industry innovations and the production of import-substituting products.

Surkhon Sandwich, located in Termez, specialises in producing sandwich panels in the construction industry.

Kursiv Uzbekistan reports that the President of Uzbekistan has instructed the increase in investment projects in the chemical industry.

Ravshan Usmanov became Uzbekistan’s first ambassador to Iceland, Dunye news agency reports.

Usmanov has also been in charge of the Uzbek diplomatic mission in the UK since 2023.

He presented his credentials to Icelandic President Halla Tomasdottir. At the meeting, they discussed the prospects of bilateral relations.

Tomasdottir emphasised that cooperation in energy and high technology is a priority.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan’s first ambassador to Albania started work.

Photo: Depositphotos
According to the Agency of Information and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan, in January 2025, the country attracted $3 bn in foreign investments, a 4-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Investments in sector-specific projects grew by 7%, amounting to $1.2 bn. Regional projects experienced even more significant growth, with an 87% increase year-on-year, reaching $1.8 bn.

In 26 districts and cities across the country, the volume of foreign investments exceeded $20 mln.

Three investment projects in the Navoi region, with a total value of $334 mln, have begun. These projects will be located within the chemical...

As of February 7, Hududgazta’minot has delivered 2.5 bn cubic meters of gas to the residents of Uzbekistan, according to a company representative, Aziza Mirzarakhimova.

The country’s wholesale consumers received 1 billion cubic meters of fuel, including 218.8 mln cubic meters supplied to heating companies and 44.1 mln cubic meters delivered to social facilities.

Hududgazta’minot provided 1.5 bn cubic meters of gas to methane filling stations.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that 2,100 cases of gas theft were detected in Uzbekistan.

The South Korean government and the People’s Power Party have agreed to strengthen measures against workplace bullying following the death of freelance anchorwoman Oh Yoanna at a local TV station.

Lawmakers and government officials discussed possibly inspecting the MBC television station where Oh worked. She passed away last year amid allegations of harassment from colleagues.

The government and the party are deeply concerned that a young woman lost her life due to conflicts with coworkers and that the company failed to take necessary action.

If the TV station does not conduct an internal investigation, the government and the party...

Photo: Adolat.uz
Unofficial information circulating in Uznet suggests that the Presidential Administration will be reduced by 50%, along with a decrease in the number of employees across various departments, according to Sherzod Asadov, spokesman for the head of state.

Asadov emphasised that staff optimisation is an ongoing process occurring in all government agencies. The priority is to eliminate redundant functions and enhance the efficiency of state administration and the performance of officials.

«The extent and details of this process will become clear only after conducting relevant studies and analyses,» the spokesman added.

He also...

On February 7, the dollar decreased by 12.84 soums, reaching a rate of 12,957 soums at the currency exchange. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has set the dollar’s exchange rate at a similar level.

At banks’ exchange offices, the dollar is purchased for 12,895 to 12,945 soums and sold for 12,975 to 13,030 soums.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports on forecasts regarding the dollar exchange rate in Uzbekistan, published by the S&P agency.