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Rescue teams reached Andarlukak village in Afghanistan’s Kunar province 36 hours after the earthquake. None of the first responders were women, according to The New York Times.

As a result, many injured women went without medical help or remained under debris until women from nearby villages arrived. Witnesses say men rescuers avoided contact due to Taliban restrictions.

Under current rules, only close male relatives may touch a woman. Women are banned from treating men outside their family. In 2024, the Taliban also prohibited women from entering medical schools, worsening the shortage of female doctors and rescuers.

Local resident Bibi Aisha,

Uzbekistan has delivered 265 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan following a recent earthquake that struck several provinces. The handover ceremony took place in the border town of Hairatan, Balkh province, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

The shipment was organised at the Termez Cargo Centre and transported to Afghanistan on 14 trucks. It included medicines and food supplies for people affected by the disaster.

The aid is intended to support residents of the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan and Panjshir, which were hit by the earthquake.

During the ceremony, Afghan representatives expressed gratitude to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Uzbek people, describing...

On September 12, Almaty will open Kazakhstan’s first museum built to international standards. The Almaty Museum of Arts is designed to host large-scale global exhibitions and to strengthen the city’s role as a cultural hub in Central Asia.

Artistic director Meruert Kaliyeva said the museum will connect Kazakh art with global practices. The programme will include contemporary works from Central Asia as well as internationally recognised names, offering audiences a broader perspective on visual culture.

The building was developed by UK firm Chapman Taylor with technical input from Buro Happold. It includes climate control systems, advanced storage, and spaces...

Uzbekistan and the OSCE have held talks on how to strengthen Afghanistan’s place in regional markets.

Ismatulla Irgashev, the Uzbek President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met in Tashkent with Terhi Hakala, the OSCE Chairperson’s Special Envoy.

Both sides stressed the need for steady dialogue to support stability and growth in Afghanistan, according to Trend news agency.

Hakala welcomed Uzbekistan’s efforts to build a joint regional approach. The talks also covered plans to boost trade links and revive Afghanistan’s national economy.

The OSCE has 57 members, including the US, Russia, European and Central Asian states, as well as Canada.

Taylor Swift chose not to travel to São Paulo for Travis Kelce’s first NFL game of the new season, with security costs cited as the main reason. The pop star had been widely tipped to attend, but speculation ended shortly before kickoff when her absence was confirmed.

In the run-up to the game, several local outlets even reported that Swift’s plane had touched down in Brazil, which later proved false. Fans inside the stadium, many of whom expected her to join them, were left disappointed.

According to sources quoted by UK media, the decision was practical rather than personal...

Max Verstappen delivered a scorching lap to seize pole position for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, setting a new circuit record in the process. The Red Bull driver stopped the clock at 1m18.792s, edging Lando Norris by just 0.077s.

The Dutchman’s pole is only his second at the Temple of Speed, though he has already won twice here. It also marks his fifth pole of the 2025 season, adding to successes in Japan, Saudi Arabia, Miami and Silverstone.

Another record for Max 🤩

Verstappen takes his 45th pole for Red Bull overtaking Sebastian Vettel's tally#F1

Erling Haaland has admitted he «can’t sleep» after expressing anger at his former club Bryne FK’s decision to axe three first-team players midway through the season.

The Manchester City striker took to social media to criticise the Norwegian side, who currently sit third from bottom of the league with just five wins in 20 matches and no victories in their last seven games. If they finish in their current position, Bryne will face a relegation play-off to stay in Norway’s top flight.

Despite their struggles, the club cut ties with captain Axel Kryger, Jens Husebo and Robert Undheim. Local...

Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SSS) has detained individuals attempting to smuggle a large quantity of powerful drugs from Kyrgyzstan into the country.

According to the agency, a 1985-born resident of Namangan, previously convicted under Articles 246 and 251-1 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, planned once again to make money through the illegal import and sale of strong narcotics.

To carry out his plan he contacted an acquaintance in Kyrgyzstan, asking him to deliver a large consignment. The Kyrgyz citizen transported 16,755 units of the potent drug Regapen into Kosonsoy district and hid them in a secret location.

The Namangan resident...

EastEnders fans have hit out at the BBC after a major spoiler ruined Max Branning’s dramatic return storyline.

The iconic character, played by Jake Wood, made his comeback at the end of Wednesday’s episode. Although his return was first reported back in May, many viewers were unaware he would appear this week.

However, those who went to watch the episode on iPlayer were left angry when the preview image showed Max, spoiling the reveal before they had started watching.

One frustrated fan wrote on Reddit: «I watched Wednesday’s episode today – tell me why iPlayer decided...

Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, visited the inaugural Bukhara Biennale Recipes for Broken Hearts and shared photos from the event on Telegram.

«The first Bukhara Biennale offers unique venues where our rich history unfolds, highlighting our traditions and carefully preserved crafts,» she noted. Mirziyoyeva added that the event unites both contemporary and applied art.

The Biennale opened on September 5 and will continue until November 20. Around 70 projects created by artists from Uzbekistan and overseas will be showcased across the city, including the Khoja-Gaukushon complex and other historic...

Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new regulation defining how the customs value of goods is determined when exported from the country. The document was published on the legal portal Lex.uz.

Under the decision, the customs value serves as the basis for calculating export duties and other mandatory payments. The use of false or arbitrary figures in this process is strictly prohibited.

The main calculation method will be Method No. 1 which is based on the transaction value of the exported goods. If this is not possible, other approaches will be applied step by step:

US President Donald Trump has wished Uzbekistan’s national football team success during a phone call with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The World Cup will be held next year across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June to July.

During the conversation the two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Tashkent and Washington. Trade between the two countries grew by 15% last year, according to Mirziyoyev’s press service.

«The US President highly appreciated and supported the irreversible reforms being carried out in New Uzbekistan in recent years, aimed at modernising the economy and...

Jim Arrington, recognised in 2015 as the world’s oldest competitive bodybuilder, continues to defy age at 93. He recently took part in the 2025 IFBB Pro League Masters World Championships, where he stood out as the oldest participant. With over seven decades of experience in bodybuilding, his dedication shows no signs of slowing.

Over the years Arrington has reshaped his diet to support his training. Once reliant on milk and beef, he later cut them out due to inflammation and switched to lighter, healthier options such as mushrooms and olive oil.

«I figured if I did...

At Tashkent’s Olympia Stadium the Uzbekistan national football team claimed a convincing 4-0 victory against Kyrgyzstan, securing their place in the final of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

The match began with early pressure from the visitors. In the fifth minute Atabayev struck the crossbar from a free kick, but momentum soon shifted towards the hosts. On 26 minutes Akmal Mozgovoy opened the scoring after VAR confirmation. Just before half-time Kyrgyzstan were reduced to ten men when Valeriy Kichin was sent off for a last-man foul.

In the second half Timur Kapadze’s side stepped up the pace. Otabek Shukurov

On September 6, the latest mini-album by South Korean girl group aespa reached number one on the iTunes Top Albums chart in Uzbekistan.

Released on September 5, 2025, Rich Man is the group’s sixth extended play (EP), produced under SM Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment in Korea and Warner Records internationally. The EP runs for around 19 minutes and contains six tracks that span dance, hip-hop, R&B and pop influences. Its lead single shares the album’s title.

Rich Man was issued in 15 physical formats, including two Rich Man Bag versions, five Burst versions (a group edition and...

A piece of film history has changed hands for a galactic price. Darth Vader’s original duelling lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi has sold for $3.65 mln at a Propstore auction in Los Angeles, making it the most valuable Star Wars item ever auctioned.

The winning bid stood at $2.9 mln before fees, setting a franchise record. The weapon was wielded on screen by actor David Prowse and stunt double Bob Anderson, and carried a presale estimate of $1 mln to $3 mln. It is believed to be the only hero lightsaber from the original...

Sydney Sweeney will keep the spotlight firmly on her latest film when she arrives at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday, September 5. The actress stars in Christy, David Michôd’s biopic about professional boxer Christy Martin, and says she intends to discuss only her preparation and collaboration for the role.

«I am there to support my movie and the people involved in making it, and I’m not there to talk about jeans,» Sweeney told Vanity Fair ahead of the premiere.

The star has faced criticism over her American Eagle campaign launched earlier this...

Aryna Sabalenka has booked her place in the US Open final after a hard-fought win over Jessica Pegula in New York.

The defending champion recovered from losing the first set to prevail 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday night inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. She will face Amanda Anisimova in Saturday’s final.

If victorious, Sabalenka will be the first woman since Serena Williams to successfully defend the US Open title, with Williams winning three in a row from 2012 to 2014.

«I think I really played great tennis,» Sabalenka said. «I think I handled that pressure really well...

When you stand 216 cm tall, finding a car that fits is no easy task. But Shaquille O’Neal was not prepared to settle for cramped interiors. Instead, he turned to California-based workshop Effortless Motors to create a one-of-a-kind Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06, stretched by half a metre to suit his frame.

The result is officially the longest Corvette ever built. Its doors are enormous, the wheelbase rivals that of a limousine, yet the powerhouse under the bonnet remains unchanged, a 670-horsepower V8 engine capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds, with a top speed of...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree appointing Alexey Yerkhov as ambassador to Uzbekistan, according to a document published on the official legal acts portal.

Yerkhov takes over from Oleg Malginov, who led the Russian diplomatic mission in Tashkent from spring 2021 until September 2025. Malginov had previously succeeded Vladimir Tyurdenev, who held the position from 2009 to March 2021.

Born in Moscow on 28 October 1960, Yerkhov is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience. Over the course of his career, he has served as ambassador to Morocco, Egypt and Israel. Most recently, he headed the Russian embassy in...

A full launch of REPO operations is essential for the development of Uzbekistan’s corporate bond market, according to George Paresishvili, Chairman of the Republican Stock Exchange (RSE). He made the comments at the 7th Cbonds International Capital Markets Conference in Tashkent.

Paresishvili noted that REPO deals are actively used in the government securities market, as the Central Bank accepts state bonds to provide liquidity to commercial banks. In contrast, the corporate bond segment remains underdeveloped.

«You can count the number of REPO transactions on one hand,» he remarked, stressing that without an active REPO market corporate...

The Regional Expert Group (REG) on migrant health has raised concern over a draft law in Uzbekistan that could deny work to foreigners diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis.

Under the proposal, foreign nationals and stateless persons arriving for employment would undergo compulsory medical checks. The Senate approved the draft in August. The group is also worried about a measure requiring returning Uzbek citizens who have spent more than 90 days abroad to be tested for HIV.

«The Regional Expert Group strongly urges a review of the draft law in line with international standards and the recommendations...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supplied mobile laboratory equipment to the Karakalpak Republican Centre for Agricultural Services under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture. The project equips farmers in the Aral Sea region with tools to adapt to climate change and build a more sustainable agroecosystem.

Farming Challenges

Farmers here struggle with saline soils, erratic weather and lack of soil data. Until now, samples had to be sent to laboratories with results taking weeks, leaving farmers unable to respond quickly.

Dr Abdurashid Mirzambetov of the International Innovation Centre for the Aral Sea Basin said that without proper diagnostics, farmers...

Gold could climb close to $5,000 an ounce if the Federal Reserve’s independence is undermined and investors transfer even a small share of their Treasury holdings into gold, according to Goldman Sachs.

In a research note, analysts including Samantha Dart warned that «a scenario where Fed independence is damaged would likely lead to higher inflation, lower stock and long-dated bond prices, and a weakening of the dollar’s reserve currency role. In contrast, gold is a store of value that does not rely on institutional trust.»

Projections for Gold

The bank mapped out a...