News

The Chirchik branch of the Tashkent State Medical University (TSMU) has been added to the blacklist of the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India, according to the Medical Dialogues portal.

The commission warned Indian applicants against enrolling in undergraduate programs at the university. According to the NMC, the overall quality of education at the Chirchik branch does not meet Indian national standards. As a result, students who graduate and return to India may not be eligible to practice medicine.

In addition to the Chirchik branch of TSMU, three universities in Belize were also blacklisted. The NMC stated that...

Taliban army chief Fasihuddin Fitrat has admitted that efforts to retrieve military aircraft that fled to Uzbekistan during the fall of the previous Afghan government in 2021 have yet to succeed. Despite nearly four years of diplomatic pressure, the aircraft remain beyond the Taliban’s reach, a situation Fitrat insists they are not prepared to accept, Amu reports.

«These aircraft belong to Afghanistan,» he stated during a press briefing in Kabul, outlining the defence ministry’s annual progress. «We have not given up, and we never will. What is rightfully ours must be returned.»

Aircraft...

From 2025, the United States will introduce a new mandatory charge known as the Visa Integrity Fee, applicable to all non-immigrant visa applicants. The relevant legislation was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

The fee has been set at $250 and will remain in effect until the end of the 2025 fiscal year on September 30. It may be adjusted in the future to account for inflation.

The fee cannot be waived. However, it will not apply to nationals of countries participating in the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), which includes over 40 states.

To get their money...

Qatar has formally entered the race to host the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, its Olympic Committee announced, confirming that a formal proposal has been sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Anadolu Ajansi reports.

In its statement, Qatar’s bid committee highlighted the country’s modern sports infrastructure, strong organisational capabilities and proven experience in staging international events. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and head of the bid commission, said the initiative reflects the nation’s vision of using sport to foster peace and mutual understanding between peoples.

«Sport for Peace» Philosophy...

Uzbekistan extracted over 21.7 bln cubic metres of natural gas in the first half of 2025, according to data from the National Statistics Committee. This marks a 3.1% year-on-year decline in output.

Despite lower domestic production, gas exports surged by 50.5% to $355 mln. Meanwhile, imports dropped to $571.8 mln during the same period.

Last year, Uzbekneftegaz announced plans to stabilise domestic gas production. The strategy includes attracting foreign investment, drilling new wells and upgrading existing gas fields.

On the import side, Kazakhstan has indicated plans to increase the transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan to 22 bn cubic...

Rosie Jeanne Burke Roche, a distant cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry and granddaughter of Princess Diana’s uncle, has died suddenly at the age of 20, The Independent reports. Her mother and sister discovered her at the family home in Norton, near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, on July 14, just as she was preparing for a trip with friends.

An inquest into her death was formally opened at the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner’s court and has been adjourned until October 25. Wiltshire Police confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement. The coroner reported that Rosie died from...

Uzbekistan set new historic records in daily electricity consumption and grid load during the unusually hot period from July 16 to 21, 2025, the Ministry of Energy reports.

For the first time, summer consumption levels have overtaken winter peaks. On July 18, the country consumed 272.6 mln kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in a single day, exceeding both the previous winter maximum of 271.8 mln kWh and the summer record of 253.3 mln kWh set in July 2024.

At 17:00 (GMT+5) on July 21, the national power grid hit a new peak capacity of 13.3 gigawatts (GW), surpassing the previous...

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover reached $37 bn in the first six months of 2025, marking a 16.1% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Committee.

China, Russia and Kazakhstan remained the country’s main trading partners. Trade with China exceeded $6.5 bn, followed by $6 bn with Russia and $2.2 bn with Kazakhstan.

As of early July, Uzbekistan exported goods worth $16.8 bn, while imports stood at $20.1 bn. Russia, China and Kazakhstan were the primary buyers of Uzbek products and also the main suppliers of goods to the country.

Gold remained Uzbekistan’s top...

Ozzy Osbourne, widely credited as one of the founding figures of heavy metal music, has died at the age of 76. The Osbourne family confirmed his death on Tuesday, July 22, with a brief statement:

«It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.»

His death follows a long period of declining health. This includes a public battle...

Several banks have updated the rates for exchanging foreign currencies for UZS on July 23. This article contains information about the most favorable rates.

Here are Central Bank Reference Rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Several banks offer best rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Financial institutions may change the value of currencies...

Uzbekistan’s economic performance in the first half of 2025 showed marked improvement, with GDP growth reaching 7.2% year on year, up from 6.6% in the same period of 2024, according to the National Statistics Committee.

The economy benefited from a notable surge in exports, slowing inflation and solid domestic demand. The consumer price index (CPI) dropped to 4.2%, compared to 5.2% a year earlier, reflecting stabilisation in food and fuel prices. However, real income growth slowed to 9.5%, down from 11.9% last year.

Export-Led Growth and Steady Investment Activity

Foreign trade played a key role in driving the...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed the next phase of development at Zaamin Technopark in Jizzakh region, where several new investment projects are planned to launch soon.

The industrial complex, being built across 400 hectares, has already entered its first phase, with nine projects currently under development. Five additional high-potential projects have now been approved as part of the second phase.

Among them is the establishment of joint production lines with Longze Investment Group for medical and security equipment, and a collaboration with Foxit for the manufacturing of laptops, tablets, servers and routers. Other upcoming initiatives include the production of...

Uzbekistan and Switzerland have officially concluded bilateral negotiations on market access as part of Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to the presidential representative for WTO affairs, Azizbek Urunov.

The protocol was signed on July 21 in Geneva. Urunov announced the development via LinkedIn, noting that «within Uzbekistan’s WTO accession process, adding one more WTO member to the finalized list, having just few members outstanding!»

He praised both the Uzbek and Swiss teams for their thorough and constructive work, adding that «long list faded away, countdown started.»

Back in May, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed officials to...

On July 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Jizzakh region to inspect progress at the Zaamin Technopark, a special industrial zone launched on his initiative in June 2023.

The large-scale project, covering 400 hectares, is being developed in partnership with Chinese investors and will include 31 investment projects worth a combined $1.2 bn. Over the past year, essential infrastructure has been completed and production facilities constructed.

The first enterprise in the technopark, a $10 mln concrete product plant launched by China’s Xinjiang Honglin Tiandi, has already begun operations, employing 60 people. The second project, valued at $42 mln, is...

Uzbekistan’s car manufacturing sector continued its steady growth in the first half of 2025, producing a total of 185,600 passenger vehicles, according to the national statistics agency. This marks a 4.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

Cobalt remained the most-produced model, with 73,100 units assembled from January to June — up 0.2% year on year. In second place was the Damas microvan, with 46,000 vehicles manufactured, representing a strong 18.1% increase over the first half of 2024.

Tracker models also maintained popularity, with 22,800 units produced in six months. The Onix and Kia brands rounded out...

On July 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting where preparations for the upcoming autumn-winter period were addressed. Officials presented measures to expand energy production, inject gas into underground storage and ensure balanced energy supply.

Construction is under way at the Talimarjan thermal power plant on two combined-cycle units with a total capacity of 1,065 MW, and a new 1,573 MW power station is being built in Syrdarya. Together, these facilities are expected to generate 20 bn kWh annually.

Additionally, by the end of this year, several new hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 162 MW will be commissioned in...

The banks of the Naryn River and surrounding major canals in Namangan region are set to be transformed into a large-scale modern tourism zone, according to regional authorities.

This initiative follows President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s directive to expand the tourism sector by developing new destinations rooted in the country’s natural and historical landmarks. In line with this, Namangan regional governor Shavkatjon Abdurazzakov visited the Naryn Hydropower Cascade today to review several ongoing and planned projects.

One such project involves developing a 20-hectare riverside site in Uychi district, where a new tourist park and residential buildings are planned. Along the Naryn...

Ukrainian Ambassador Mykola Doroshenko has announced the conclusion of his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan following a rotation within Ukraine’s diplomatic corps, as approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a farewell message, Doroshenko called his appointment «the highest expression of trust» from his country’s leadership and said he had given his utmost to strengthen ties between Ukraine and Uzbekistan. «With deep motivation and all the energy I could muster, I worked to promote comprehensive cooperation between our two nations,» he said.

Reflecting on the difficult circumstances under which he served, Doroshenko noted that his tenure as...

On July 21, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the progress of joint projects in the oil and gas sector being carried out with international partners.

As domestic energy demand continues to grow, Uzbekistan is steadily developing its energy sector. A number of promising initiatives have been launched following the president’s foreign visits and the business forums held during them.

One key development is an agreement with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to explore and extract oil in the Ustyurt region. The two sides will also conduct joint geological surveys in other promising areas.

Uzbekistan is working with several other countries as...

Several banks have updated the rates for exchanging foreign currencies for UZS on July 22. This article contains information about the most favorable rates.

Here are Central Bank Reference Rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Several banks offer better buy rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Financial institutions may change the value of...

Oil prices were little changed on Monday as markets balanced concerns over new European Union sanctions on Russian oil with broader demand worries tied to upcoming U.S. tariffs and increased output from Middle East producers, as reported by Reuters.

Brent crude fell by 10 cents to $69.18 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) edged down by 1 cent to $67.33, following small losses in the previous session.

On Friday, the EU approved its 18th sanctions package against Russia, which includes a ban on refined oil products made from Russian crude in third countries—potentially affecting exporters like India’s...

After waiting 30 years, former teacher George Thomson has finally seen the famous cuckoo bird emerge from Edinburgh’s floral clock—a wish he’s held onto since a school trip gone wrong in 1995, tells the BBC.

Back then, George led his P7 class on a 100-mile journey from Aberdeen to see the mechanical cuckoo at Princes Street Gardens, only to discover the clock wasn’t working.

«One of the kids asked why the clock had no hands—and that’s when I realized it was under repair,» George recalled.

Now 90, George’s son took him back to...

At least 19 people have died and 164 others were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara suburb on Monday afternoon, as reported by BBC.

Dramatic footage from the scene shows flames and thick black smoke billowing from the school’s two-storey building, as rescue teams rushed to pull victims from the debris.

According to a statement posted on Facebook by the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the F-7 aircraft experienced a mechanical failure shortly after taking off for a routine training flight around 13:00 local time (07:06 GMT). The pilot, Flight...

The National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP) of the Republic of Uzbekistan has officially granted a crypto asset custody license to TGHAMYON LLC, in accordance with the licensing regulations outlined in Resolution No. 3380 dated August 15, 2022.

TGHAMYON is now authorized to operate as a crypto-depository service provider under Uzbekistan’s legal framework governing the circulation of crypto-assets.

The company is fully owned by Wallet Global Ventures Limited, a holding firm that also controls crypto service providers responsible for the “Wallet in Telegram” product, a popular solution for digital asset transactions within the Telegram messaging platform.

Information about the...