News

Lionel Messi held back tears during the warm-up and stood alongside his three sons for the Argentine national anthem, as he prepared for what could be his final World Cup qualifying match on home ground.

The night almost ended with a hat trick. Messi scored in the 39th and 80th minutes to inspire the reigning world champions to a 3-0 victory over Venezuela at Mas Monumental Stadium on Thursday, 4 September. Lautaro Martínez added the second goal in the 76th minute, set up by Messi, as Argentina continued their unbeaten run having already secured qualification for the 2026 World...

Giorgio Armani, one of Italy’s most influential fashion designers, has died at the age of 91, the Armani Group confirmed on Thursday, September 4.

Over decades of work, Armani defined a distinctly Italian style and reshaped Hollywood red carpet fashion.

«Il Signor Armani, as he was respectfully known to colleagues and staff, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones,» the Armani Group said, describing him as «a tireless driving force.»

Rescue teams in Afghanistan continued pulling bodies from the ruins of destroyed homes on September 4, after a series of earthquakes claimed more than 2,200 lives. Survivors left without shelter now face an uncertain future as international aid groups warn that relief supplies are running thin.

According to the Taliban authorities, search operations remain under way in the mountainous eastern provinces hit by the disaster. Officials confirmed 2,205 deaths and at least 3,640 people injured.

«Everything we owned has been lost,» said Aalem Jan, a resident of Kunar whose house was reduced to rubble. Sitting...

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has reported Uzbekistan’s public debt figures for the second quarter of 2025. By early July the total debt had risen to more than $43.3 bn, an increase of 1.6% compared with January to March this year.

Of this amount $36.4 bn came from external borrowing and $6.9 bn from domestic sources. The country’s main creditors are international financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and other organisations.

Tashkent has also borrowed from the International Monetary Fund as well as state banks in Germany and Spain.

As of early July...

Uzbekistan has issued a diplomatic note to Russia’s Foreign Ministry following the circulation of a video showing a Russian man hurling insults at an Uzbek citizen, Foreign Ministry spokesman Akhror Burkhanov confirmed.

The video, widely shared online, shows a passer-by shouting at a taxi driver from Uzbekistan in the Moscow region. In front of witnesses the man called the driver «a slave of Russians» and claimed he was «not at home».

He shouted:

«You are a slave, a slave of Russians. You came here because there is nothing in Uzbekistan. You are not at...

FC Kairat is preparing to host the legendary Real Madrid in the Champions League, with the match set for September 30 at Almaty’s Central Stadium. The game promises to be the biggest sporting event of the year in Kazakhstan. Ahead of the clash, Ticketon and Kairat have warned fans about counterfeit tickets and explained how to purchase safely.

Where to buy tickets:

Aviasales.uz, through its media platform Yo’lovchi, has published insights into the most popular travel choices for Uzbeks this autumn. Overall bookings have increased by 12%, with demand spread across both domestic and international trips.

The ten most popular foreign destinations include Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, China, South Korea, the UAE, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Latvia and Thailand.

Domestic tourism within Uzbekistan is showing strong momentum, with bookings up by 36%. Demand for Kazakhstan has grown even more sharply, rising by 41%, while the average ticket price remains at last year’s level.

Flights to Turkey have become more affordable, with ticket...

Laos has expressed its intention to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Deputy Foreign Minister Phongsavanh Sisoulath announced during the Eastern Economic Forum, according to RIA News.

On September 1, 2025 the country was granted dialogue partner status at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. The next step could see Laos move towards becoming a full member of the regional bloc.

Laos at a glance:

A team of football referees from Uzbekistan has been appointed to officiate the friendly match between Russia and Jordan, the Russian Football Union announced.

The officiating crew will be headed by Ilgiz Tantashev, with fellow Uzbek specialists Andrey Tsapenko and Timur Gaynullin assisting. Russian referee Yegor Yegorov will serve as the fourth official.

Tantashev is no stranger to Russian friendlies, having overseen matches against Tajikistan in 2022 and Iran in 2023.

The Russia v Jordan match will take place on Thursday, September 4, at the Lukoil Arena in Moscow, kicking off at 22:00 (GMT+5). Russia has recently played friendlies...

Fintech company Alif Uzbekistan is preparing to apply for a banking licence, with the necessary documents to be submitted soon to the Central Bank, the firm told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The board of directors of UK-registered Alif Capital Holdings Limited has approved the creation of a new banking entity in Uzbekistan. The aim is to broaden financial services and provide greater support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Alif Uzbekistan also confirmed that it has already secured major investment and is actively working on launching the new bank.

Founded in Tajikistan in 2014, Alif entered the Uzbek market in 2019. Its first...

Tottenham have unveiled their 25-man squad for the 2025/26 Champions League league phase, with manager Thomas Frank leaving out six notable names.

Kota Takai, Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Mathys Tel have all been omitted from the squad list for Spurs’ return to Europe’s top competition.

Maddison’s exclusion comes as little surprise after the England midfielder suffered a serious knee injury during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle in August, which could keep him sidelined for the entire campaign.

New summer arrival Takai is also out with a plantar fascia problem and no set recovery date, while...

Portuguese manager Paulo Bento has declined an offer to take charge of Uzbekistan’s national football team. The Football Association had put forward a contract designed to prepare the squad for its first ever World Cup appearance in 2026.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Bento rejected the approach as the terms presented by the Uzbek side did not match his expectations at this stage of his career. The 62-year-old coach has been without a club since leaving his role as head coach of the United Arab Emirates in March 2025. Under his leadership the UAE remained in...

German international Ilkay Gundogan has departed Manchester City to join Turkish champions Galatasaray, the two clubs confirmed on Tuesday, September 2. The transfer remains subject to international clearance.

The 34-year-old midfielder featured in 358 matches during two separate spells at City, scoring 65 goals and collecting 14 trophies. Among his honours was the historic treble in 2023, when he captained the side to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles.

Gundogan first arrived in Manchester from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 before leaving for Barcelona in 2023. He returned to City for the 2024–25 season, where he recorded...

The National Statistics Committee reports that as of early August 2025 the number of active family businesses in Uzbekistan exceeded 37,800. Since the beginning of the year more than 1,500 new businesses have been established.

Trade accounts for the largest share with 15,100 enterprises, followed by industry with over 8,500 and services and catering with 7,200. The lowest numbers were recorded in transport with 339 enterprises, while construction and communications registered 299 and 244 respectively. Other sectors together account for 2,700 enterprises.

Under the family entrepreneurship programme, Uzbek women received loans totalling 1.2 trln soums ($97 mln) during...

The Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has begun adapting aspects of China’s poverty reduction model to Uzbekistan’s socio-economic context, the centre shared with Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The approach was outlined at the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network meeting in Tashkent in August 2024 and is being implemented in 2025 under a presidential decree on employment and poverty reduction.

Agricultural and Ecological Projects

Initiatives inspired by Chinese examples include agricultural cooperatives where low-income families lease land, supported by subsidies and supply chain integration. Similar schemes promote fish farming, beekeeping and livestock rearing. A project for specialised crop production on...

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, told national broadcaster Uzbekistan 24 that the country will receive mobile substations from China. The equipment will be used to ensure stability during the repair of stationary facilities.

The minister also noted that training in renewable energy will be provided through cooperation with China Datang Corporation. In addition, Tashkent has agreed with Chinese partners on the development of pumped storage power stations and on assistance in building and commissioning power transmission lines.

Mirzamakhmudov underlined that China remains the largest investor and partner for Uzbekistan in the energy sector, contributing not only through financial resources...

Uzbekistan’s presidential aide Saida Mirziyoyeva has shared her impressions of Andrea Bocelli’s concert held in Samarkand on September 1, describing the event as a significant cultural milestone.

According to Mirziyoyeva, the performance demonstrated Samarkand’s growing reputation as a hub of international cultural exchange. The world-renowned Italian tenor was accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan.

«The event took place under the auspices of UNESCO, which highlights its special importance for global culture,» she noted in her Telegram post.

International cultural exchange in Samarkand

The concert was organised by the Art and Culture Development...

A video of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif fumbling with his translation headset during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing has circulated widely on social media.

The incident took place on September 2, when Sharif attempted to put on the earpiece but faced difficulty, prompting Putin to smile and demonstrate how to wear it correctly. Clips of the exchange quickly spread online, drawing comparisons with a similar episode in 2022.

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Uzbekistan that year, Sharif had also struggled with his earphones during a bilateral meeting with Putin, leaving the Russian leader amused.

Daniela has been named champion of the 12th season of MasterChef Brazil. The lawyer overcame fellow finalist Felipe Bruzzi in the grand final, broadcast live from São Paulo on Tuesday September 2, and lifted the 2025 trophy.

To claim victory, the amateur cook had to present a full menu — starter, main course and dessert — to the programme’s panel of three judges. The final result was revealed live on Band television.

In an interview with Band, Daniela expressed her delight:

«It is wonderful. It is much more than I imagined it would be. It...

If you have ever imagined a desert meeting the horizon of the sea, Barsa Kelmes is that place. On August 30 and 31, the vast salt plains that once lay beneath the waters of the Aral Sea hosted the third international UNG – Barsa Kelmes Marathon.

Running through past and future

Dozens of participants from different countries gathered in a location that today symbolises both beauty and loss. To run across the white salt flats of Barsa Kelmes was to move through the pages of history. Each step recalled a place where life once flourished but where nature now...

On September 3, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the First Lady attended a grand military parade on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Second World War.

The event brought together leaders and representatives from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Vietnam.

The parade featured 45 units of the People’s Liberation Army of China as well as the latest defence technologies, including advanced missiles, tanks, aircraft and drones developed by China’s military industry.

Military parades of this scale have been held in Beijing since 1949. The last...

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has invested $5 bn directly into Uzbekistan, according to figures announced during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s meeting with the company’s leadership in Beijing.

Talks focused on strategic projects such as the construction of underground gas storage facilities and the modernisation of energy infrastructure across the country. One of CNPC’s major undertakings in Uzbekistan is the upgrading of the Bukhara oil refinery, a key facility in the national energy system.

CNPC is China’s largest state-owned oil and gas enterprise. Its activities cover exploration, production, refining and sales of oil and natural gas, alongside the development...

Junior middleweight contender Brian Mendoza is no stranger to overcoming size disadvantages. In 2023 he produced one of the year’s biggest shocks by knocking out Sebastian Fundora, despite being nearly eight inches shorter. The result has gained even greater significance since Fundora went on to defeat Tim Tszyu twice and claim the WBC 154-pound title, which he will defend against Keith Thurman in October.

Mendoza, who later lost to Tszyu, is now turning his attention to the upcoming contest between WBA junior middleweight champion Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) and undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs). The...

Victoria Beckham has shared family holiday photographs that appeared to underline her son Brooklyn’s absence, as the rift between him and the Beckham family continues, The Sun reports.

The fashion designer, 51, posted a series of images on Instagram showing her family enjoying a summer break aboard their £16 mln yacht. Photographs included David Beckham, 50, spending time with sons Cruz, 20, and Romeo, 23, as well as daughter Harper, 14. The images were captioned «Perfect end to summer».

Brooklyn, 26, was not present in any of the photographs, having spent the summer with his wife Nicola Peltz and...