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Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have agreed to establish a FIFA office for Central Asia in Tashkent.

During the talks, Infantino congratulated Mirziyoyev on Uzbekistan’s historic qualification for the World Cup, which will be held across several countries in the Americas next year.

According to the presidential press service, the two sides discussed ways to expand cooperation with FIFA, focusing on reforming the organisation and management of football in Uzbekistan. Particular attention was given to joint projects aimed at promoting the sport among young people. FIFA has already supported the launch of a football centre...

The CAFA Nations Cup 2025 reached a dramatic conclusion at Tashkent’s Olympic Stadium as Uzbekistan defeated Iran 1-0 thanks to a late extra-time strike from Khojiakbar Alijonov.

Early Drama

The match started at a frantic pace with both sides showing intensity. Just five minutes in, Iran were reduced to ten men after defender Aria Yousufi was sent off. Uzbekistan pressed their advantage and created several chances, but efforts from Abbosbek Fayzullaev and Jasurbek Alikulov failed to find the net.

In the second half, the hosts made attacking changes with Igor Sergeev and Oston Urunov coming on, yet Iran held...

HBO’s upcoming remake of the Harry Potter series has sparked debate among fans, with many questioning why the story needs to be retold.

The latest announcement confirmed Warwick Davis will return as Professor Flitwick. Earlier casting, including Nick Frost as Hagrid, also raised eyebrows, leading some to ask whether the project offers anything new.

On social media, critics pointed out the show is being filmed in the same locations as the original films, with near-identical costumes.

«Genuinely, what’s the point of this?» one fan wrote.

Others argued the remake gives more time to adapt...

Jose Mourinho has been dismissed by Fenerbahce, with club president Ali Koc saying the manager’s «unacceptable» football style forced the decision.

The 62-year-old Portuguese coach lost his job two days after Fenerbahce were knocked out of the Champions League play-offs by Benfica. While many thought the European defeat sealed his fate, Koc said it was Mourinho’s dull approach that clashed with the club’s tradition of dominant, attacking football.

«Getting knocked out by Benfica wasn’t the issue,» Koc told Turkish outlet Hurriyet. «But how we went out was unacceptable. It felt like the same dull football...

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has suspended production at its UK factories following a major cyber-attack, with disruption expected to last into October.

The carmaker, owned by India’s Tata group, stopped operations last week after hackers infiltrated its systems. Workers at plants in Halewood, Solihull and Wolverhampton have been told to stay home but will continue to be paid. They are expected to «bank» their hours and make them up later.

Suppliers including Evtec, WHS Plastics, SurTec and OPmobility have also paused work, affecting more than 6K staff. Production in Slovakia, Brazil and India is thought to be hit as...

A British start-up building anti-missile technology similar to Israel’s Iron Dome has raised more than $130mln (£96mln).

Cambridge Aerospace will use the funds to develop its Skyhammer interceptor rockets, designed to knock out drones and missiles at low cost. The company plans large-scale production, aiming to build thousands of rockets each month, with a new parts factory in Norfolk.

The investment round includes backing from D3, a Ukrainian defence fund supported by Google’s former chief executive Eric Schmidt. Since leaving Google, Schmidt has focused on defence projects and has worked with Ukraine on drone deployment.

Cambridge Aerospace was founded...

Donald Trump once dismissed Bitcoin as a scam. Now, he and his family are among its biggest beneficiaries.

During his second term, Trump has presented himself as the most crypto-friendly president in US history. His administration has launched a strategic Bitcoin reserve, backed stablecoin laws and signed orders to prevent banks from cutting off clients for political reasons. These moves coincided with Bitcoin reaching a record $120K.

At the same time, the Trump family has entered the market with their own projects. Both Donald and Melania Trump issued «meme coins», while sons Donald Jr and Eric spearheaded ventures such...

Audi has presented its new Concept C sports car in Milan, calling it a «progressive step» towards a future of electric vehicles. The two-seat model mixes the elegance of a coupé with an open-top design and features a retractable hardtop, clean lines and sharp edges inspired by classic Audi models.

The company says the car reflects a new design philosophy focused on «radical simplicity» and technology. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said it was time for the brand to «pick up speed» as it shifts towards electric power.

However, the Concept C has drawn comparisons to Jaguar’s Type 00, a...

Gold has reached a new record this week, passing $3,500 an ounce for the first time. At the same time, gold mining shares are rising faster than the metal itself, something not seen in this cycle until now.

Mining companies benefit more when gold prices rise because of their high fixed costs. Higher prices boost their profit margins, and recent lower input costs have helped. Shares in gold miners only started to climb this year despite steady growth in cash flow.

Still, some investors remain cautious. Gold is seen as a safe hedge against market risks, while mining shares are...

Ethiopia will officially open the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Tuesday, a massive project on the Blue Nile expected to more than double the country’s electricity output.

The dam, under construction since 2011, will produce over 5,000 megawatts of power. Ethiopia hopes this will bring electricity to millions of citizens who still rely on kerosene lamps and firewood, and also allow the country to export energy to neighbors.

Many Ethiopians see the project as life-changing.

«With the completion of the dam, our entire community is now happy,» said Fanuse Adete, a widowed mother...

Kylian Mbappe has shared his thoughts on this season’s Premier League title race, naming Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal as the main contenders.

Liverpool Still the Team to Beat

Liverpool have opened their title defence with three straight wins, including victory over Arsenal, giving them a two point cushion heading into the international break. Mbappe acknowledged Jürgen Klopp’s side remain favourites but suggested Arsenal could spring a surprise.

«Of course, Liverpool must be mentioned first as they want to keep winning trophies. But I also have high hopes for Arsenal because their squad has...

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has claimed that his team submitted a letter withdrawing from the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, but the regional football body refused to accept it, Championat.Asia reports.

According to Ghalenoei, the late start of Iran’s domestic league created difficulties in preparing for the tournament. He criticised the organisation of the second edition of the CAFA Cup, expressing frustration but also hope for future improvements.

The coach stressed that the competition could play an important role in regional football development if modern technologies and approaches were introduced.

Ghalenoei also praised Uzbekistan’s progress over the past decade...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ACWA Power have signed an agreement to construct a wind power plant in Karakalpakstan, according to the bank’s press service.

The facility will have a capacity of 200 MW and include the region’s first energy storage system. Once operational, it is expected to generate more than 727,000 MW hours of electricity annually while reducing harmful emissions.

«The project will strengthen the resilience of the power grid, improve supply reliability and support Uzbekistan’s target of achieving a 54% share of renewables in electricity generation by 2030,» said Kanokpan Lao-Araya, ADB Country...

According to the National Statistics Committee, as of August 1, 2025 Uzbekistan had more than 462,200 enterprises and organisations in operation.

The majority are small businesses and microfirms, totalling around 392,400. Trade remains the leading sector of economic activity, accounting for 32.6% of all registered companies.

Industry makes up 12.7% of enterprises, while agriculture — including forestry and fisheries — represents 7.4%. Construction and hospitality, covering accommodation and food services, each hold a 6.3% share. Transport and logistics account for 3.6%, healthcare and social support for 2.8% and information and communication technologies for 2.4%.

Other areas of activity collectively...

As Tajikistan celebrates the 34th anniversary of its state independence, President Emomali Rahmon has been receiving congratulatory messages and telegrams from heads of state, government leaders, international organisations and prominent political and public figures.

Among the first to extend his greetings was President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who praised Tajikistan’s political, social and economic progress under Rahmon’s leadership. In his message, Mirziyoyev highlighted the close friendship between the two nations and expressed confidence that the long-standing ties of partnership and mutual support would continue to strengthen.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of China, US President...

Erling Haaland suffered an unusual injury when he was struck in the face by Norway’s team bus, leaving him with a bleeding mouth and three stitches.

The incident happened in Oslo as the Manchester City striker was preparing for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova. Haaland had recently scored the decisive goal in Norway’s 1-0 friendly victory over Finland.

As the squad arrived at their team hotel, Haaland was standing near the luggage compartment when the trunk door swung open and hit him squarely in the mouth. Witnesses reported him swearing in pain before being helped by team doctor Ola...

As of September 8, Uzbekistan’s passport improved its standing in the Henley Passport Index, moving up to 72nd out of 98 positions. At the end of July, the country held 74th place.

The index evaluates 199 passports and 227 destinations based on visa-free travel opportunities, updating quarterly. Uzbek citizens can now visit 62 countries without requiring a visa. Neighbouring ranks include Mozambique in 72nd place and São Tomé and Príncipe in 73rd.

At the start of autumn, Singapore continues to lead the global list, with its passport granting visa-free access to 193 countries. South Korea and Japan share...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Uzbekistan overnight on September 8, Uzbekistan’s Football Association reports.

At Tashkent International Airport, Infantino and his delegation were welcomed by Otabek Umarov, first deputy chairman of the National Olympic Committee, along with other senior officials.

During his visit, Infantino is set to hold talks on the development of football in Uzbekistan and will attend the final of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

This is not his first trip to the country. Two years ago, Infantino met with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, presenting him with a personalised football shirt. In 2024, he...

On the night of September 7 to 8, people across Uzbekistan turned their eyes to the sky to watch a full lunar eclipse, more widely known as a Blood Moon. Social media filled with striking photographs of the rare astronomical event.

According to Tashkent time, the eclipse began with the penumbral phase at 20:28, followed by the umbral phase at 21:27. The total eclipse started at 22:30, reached its peak at 23:11 and ended at 23:52. The partial phase then continued until 00:56, with the penumbral stage concluding at 01:55.

The full eclipse lasted 1 hour and 22 minutes...

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards took place on Sunday, September 7, at UBS Arena in New York, where stars of global music gathered to celebrate another year of achievements. The evening saw standout wins for Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, ROSÉ and BLACKPINK, alongside special honours for legends Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin and Busta Rhymes.

Lady Gaga, already a multiple VMA winner, entered the night with 12 nominations and left as the top victor. She picked up artist of the year, best art direction, best direction and best collaboration for her Bruno Mars duet Die With a...

Residents of Uzbekistan will be able to observe a total lunar eclipse on the night of 7–8 September 2025. The Moon will pass fully into the Earth’s shadow, appearing in a dark red hue.

The event will start with the penumbral phase at 20:28 Tashkent time, followed by the umbral phase at 21:27. The total eclipse will begin at 22:30, peak at 23:11, and end at 23:52. The phenomenon will conclude at 01:55 with the close of the penumbral phase.

The full eclipse will last 1 hour and 22 minutes, while the entire sequence will take nearly six hours...

Uzbekistan has risen to third place among the largest importers of Russian pharmaceutical products. The ranking was announced by Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov during the Eastern Economic Forum, RIA Novosti reported.

Kazakhstan and Belarus remain the leading buyers of Russian medicines. Turkmenistan and Algeria are also among the top five importers.

According to Russian officials, more than 85 percent of all international non-proprietary names from the list of essential medicines are now produced in Russia.

The figures highlight Uzbekistan’s growing demand for Russian-made pharmaceuticals and the strengthening of trade links in the sector.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan...

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have agreed to hold regular joint military exercises. The decision follows the signing of a government resolution by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

The drills will take place alternately in both countries. They will involve ground forces, aviation and specialised military equipment.

The agreement also sets rules for crossing the border by military convoys. It covers the use of training grounds, as well as medical and technical support during the exercises.

The accord is signed for five years. It will be automatically extended unless either side announces its withdrawal. Officials state that the cooperation aims to strengthen...

Max Verstappen powered to a dominant victory at Monza, securing his third win of the 2025 season and further strengthening his title challenge. The Red Bull driver survived an early scrap with Lando Norris, before controlling the race from the front to finish 19 seconds clear of the McLaren.

DU DU DU DU 📢📢📢

You know what to do 👇#F1 || #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/yfla8iWXVx

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) September 7, 2025

The Dutchman now adds Italy to his season’s triumphs in Japan and Imola, cementing himself as the driver to beat at the...