News

Spain and Portugal have been hit by the largest power outage in decades, leaving nearly the entire mainland without electricity.

At approximately 12:30 PM local time, a sudden blackout disrupted public transportation, traffic lights, and ATMs, forcing hospitals to switch to backup generators. Despite the widespread disruption, Bloomberg reports that stock markets continued operating normally.
Major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon were among the worst affected. Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica and Portugal’s REN are working to restore power, although the exact cause of the outage has not yet been officially confirmed.

Authorities are currently investigating several possible...

South Korea’s KOICA agency will support a new initiative this year to train residents of Uzbekistan and Thailand for work at South Korean shipyards, Yonhap News Agency reports. The program aims to train more than 100 participants.

The development and implementation of the training program are being led by the government of Ulsan, a major industrial city in South Korea, in cooperation with Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Previously, South Korean authorities trained 53 Vietnamese workers at the Korea-Vietnam Technology University, equipping them not only with shipbuilding skills but also with Korean language proficiency.

“We will continue to support the trainees...

Uzbekistan’s rhythmic gymnastics team claimed an impressive ten medals — including two golds — at the third stage of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, held in Tashkent from April 25 to 27.

On the final day of competition, Takhmina Ikromova secured gold in the hoop event.

The team also earned five silver medals:

Three bronze medals were awarded to:

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbek judoka Zamokhshari Bekmurodov won silver at the Asian Judo...

The 5th International Industrial Exhibition Innoprom. Central Asia opened in Tashkent. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with advanced digital labeling systems used in Uzbekistan and across the EAEU.

During the presentation, Ekaterina Priezzheva, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, and Mikhail Dubin, Chairman of the Board of the Center for the Development of Advanced Technologies (CRPT), explained the benefits of labelling systems and showcased mobile applications from Russia (Chestny ZNAK) and Uzbekistan (ASL BELGISI).

These applications allow consumers to independently verify product details before purchase. By scanning a label, users can check expiration dates, manufacturing locations...

Uzbekistani esports players will take part in the upcoming BRICS Tekken 8 tournament to be held in Moscow, according to TASS. The exact date of the competition has not yet been announced.

The tournament’s prize pool is 3.5 mln rubles (approximately $41,800). In addition to Uzbekistan, 21 countries will be represented, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Each nation will send two players to compete.

Tekken 8, developed by Japan’s Tekken Project Team, was released in January 2024 and features 32 characters.

The game won Best Fighting Game at the 2024 Game Awards and is part of the official lineup...

A secret conclave to elect the next Pope of the Roman Catholic Church will begin on May 7, according to a senior Vatican source cited by Reuters.

The date was decided during a closed-door meeting of cardinals, the first such gathering since the funeral of Pope Francis. An official announcement of the conclave’s start is expected to be released soon.

A total of 135 cardinals from around the world are eligible to participate in the vote. Only cardinals under the age of 80 have voting rights.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports on the farewell ceremony for Pope Francis at...

On April 28, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a series of meetings with the Russian delegation during the international industrial exhibition Innoprom. Central Asia, currently underway in Tashkent.

The forum, which is taking place at the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan exhibition center, has drawn over 10,000 participants from Russia, Central Asia, China, India, and other countries.

The event showcases cutting-edge technologies, equipment and products from sectors such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, metallurgy, chemicals, transportation, construction, IT, and more.

During the exhibition, President Mirziyoyev met with several key Russian officials. In talks with the Russian delegation led by First...

Tashkent and Moscow have completed all legal procedures for the construction of Uzbekistan’s first small nuclear power plant (SMR). The first phase, which includes pouring the foundation, is expected to begin within a year, or possibly sooner, according to Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom.

Likhachev confirmed that the legal groundwork for the project has been resolved, and the next steps include finalising technical details, obtaining licenses and commencing the first concrete pour, likely in the next 12 months.

He added that once Uzbekistan’s government makes a final decision on the large-scale nuclear plant, Rosatom will present comprehensive proposals...

Starting May 5, Centrum Air is launching direct flights from Tashkent to Baku and Almaty, offering travellers a fast, convenient, and refreshingly symbolic spring connection. These aren’t just new routes on a map — they’re new ways to get closer: to the mountains, loved ones, favourite cuisines, and unforgettable experiences. Spring brings new journeys and a reminder that true closeness isn’t measured in kilometers, but in the ability to be there.

Tashkent – Baku: A Meeting with the Caspian

Flight day: Mondays

Departure from Tashkent: 16:15

Arrival in Baku: 18:20

Return flight: 19:20

Arrival in Tashkent: 22:50

In just...

Uzbekistan aims to strengthen industrial cooperation, expand regional projects and develop nuclear technologies for agriculture and healthcare. These priorities were announced during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to the INNOPROM Central Asia exhibition in Tashkent on April 28.

During his visit President Mirziyoyev emphasized the significant potential for expanding economic partnerships and generating new business ideas. He expressed confidence that the forum would drive the launch of major new projects and foster the development of long-term cooperation.

On the sidelines of the event, President Mirziyoyev met with several high-level figures. He held talks with Denis Manturov, First Deputy Chairman of the...

Uzbekistan is actively introducing a digital labelling system. It is becoming clear that this tool affects not only the economy but also the health of the population.

Currently six product groups must undergo mandatory digital labelling in Uzbekistan. These include alcoholic and tobacco products, household appliances, beer and brewing products, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, water and soft drinks. In early 2025 a voluntary labelling project for dietary supplements (DSs) was launched. From May 1 this year, agrochemicals will also be labelled on a pilot basis.

Quality Control and Safety

Digital labelling is more than a Data Matrix code on...

An Uzbekistani delegation has travelled to Russia to discuss labour migration and the protection of migrant workers, according to the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Security Service, the Migration Agency and other departments will take part in the first meeting of the interdepartmental working group.

As of early April this year, Russia hosted more than 6.5 mln foreigners, with around one tenth residing illegally.

According to the migrant service platform, around 55% of labour migrants in Russia come from Uzbekistan. Migrants from Tajikistan account for another 40%.

The number of registered industrial enterprises in Uzbekistan reached 112,400 as of April 1, 2025, according to the National Statistics Agency.

The number of enterprises grew by 4.1% over the past year. Over five years, the figure rose by 22.9%.

In the first quarter of this year, the production of industrial goods exceeded UZS 211.3 trillion ($16.4 bn), showing an annual growth of 6.5%. As of early April, the largest volume came from Navoi Region, reaching UZS 39.7 trillion ($3.07 bn).

American companies operating factories in China now face mounting challenges as the trade conflict between Beijing and Washington intensifies, according to the Financial Times.

Corporations such as Apple and Tesla must first pay a 125% tariff to import American raw materials and components into China. They then face an additional 145% tariff on the value of finished products when exporting them back to the US.

Beyond the tech giants, a wide range of smaller American businesses also struggle under the weight of these tariffs. Several firms from third countries find themselves affected too, as they rely on American components...

The majority of highly liquid stocks on Uzbekistan’s Republican Stock Exchange (RSE) Toshkent showed mixed performance between April 18 and April 25, while the Uzbekistan Composite Index (UCI) rose by 1.2%.

Among the top gainers were:

Leading the losses were:

In terms of deal count, the top three companies were:

By trading volume in soums, the leaders were:

Fitch Ratings has assigned Tashkent a credit rating of “BB-” with a stable outlook. This marks the first-ever credit rating for the capital of Uzbekistan, according to the city’s administration.

Fitch notes that Tashkent’s debt burden remains manageable, and its revenues are growing. These factors indicate high financial responsibility and efficient governance in the city.

«Tashkent has become the first and only city in Central Asia to receive an internationally recognised BB- rating, which significantly strengthens its position on the global stage,» emphasised the capital’s administration.

This rating will also enhance the...

Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed ways to strengthen economic and political ties with India and Uzbekistan, Tolo News reports.

Muttaqi held talks with an Indian representative and spoke by phone with his Uzbek counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov. One of the key topics was organising a trilateral meeting on the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway involving Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

The Afghan side expressed readiness to launch major investment projects and deepen trade, transport and political cooperation with Tashkent. The ministers discussed ways to expand economic and transit collaboration.

Experts told Tolo News that building the railway...

China expresses readiness to discuss customs tariffs with the United States emphasising that dialogue must be based on mutual respect and benefit. Chen Xu, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, shared this position in a statement to RIA Novosti.

Chen stressed that the United States should take the first step towards opening discussions on the issue. He pointed out that Washington had initiated the current situation and said that Beijing remains open to dialogue.

“If they want a dialogue, the door remains open. It was the Americans who started this whole process...

Nineteen enterprises are currently operating in the Chirchik technocluster, with the number of resident companies reaching 27 by the end of April, according to the press service of the head of Tatarstan.

Authorities launched the Chirchik technopark in spring 2022. They allocated more than $23 mln for the development of its infrastructure. By the end of April this year, work is underway on 33 investment projects.

Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Tatarstan, is visiting Uzbekistan. During his trip, he visited the Chirchik Technopark, the Navoi Free Economic Zone and the industrial park in Bukhara. The Tatarstan side is also...

Uzbekistan’s judokas finished their bouts with two gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the Asian Judo Championships in Thailand.

Today the winners in the heavyweight categories emerged. In the under-90kg final two Uzbek athletes faced each other — Shahzodkhuja Sharipov took the gold while Nurbek Murtazaev secured silver.

Marjona Kuchimova also won a bronze medal in the under-78kg category.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s judokas concluded the individual events with a strong performance, placing second in the medal table behind Japan. Team events are scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has extended his condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian following the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas. The tragic incident has resulted in numerous casualties and injuries, as well as significant damage.

President Mirziyoyev conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.

Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that on Saturday, a powerful explosion and fire occurred at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran. The explosion killed 18 people, and around 800 others were injured. Authorities stated that the cause could be related to...

Chinese forces have taken control of the Sandy Cay reef, which is part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, located just a few kilometres from the Philippine military island of Titu. This information comes from the Financial Times, citing the Chinese television channel CCTV.

The report states that Chinese coast guard officers raised the flag of the People’s Republic of China on the reef to assert their territorial rights and document what they claim to be illegal activities by the Philippine side. According to Chinese media, China has gained control over the waters surrounding Sandy Cay...

Citizens of Uzbekistan can no longer apply for a tourist electronic visa to Saudi Arabia. The country’s name has been removed from the list of eligible nations on the official eVisa application website.

Previously, Uzbek citizens could obtain electronic visas for tourism and performing Umrah through a simplified process.

Uzbekistan gained access to Saudi Arabia’s eVisa system in 2023. At that time along with Uzbekistan, citizens from seven other countries also joined the programme bringing the total number of eligible nations to 57.

Authorities have not yet provided an official explanation for the changes.

The removal coincides with a...

A powerful explosion and fire hit Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran on Saturday, killing 18 people and injuring around 800 others. Authorities believe a shipment of chemical material used for rocket fuel production may have triggered the blast.

Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night using helicopters. The explosion happened on the same day Iranian and US officials met in Oman for talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Iranian officials did not confirm whether it was a terrorist attack. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister said security services remained on high alert due to the risk of sabotage.

According to private...