News

Uzbekistan’s ambassador met Pakistan’s Health Minister Dr. Mustafa Kamal to advance collaboration in healthcare and related fields. Dr. Kamal hailed the «deep, brotherly» ties and affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work with Uzbekistan across the sector.

Both sides agreed to:

Dr. Kamal said the countries will work together to improve public health outcomes...

Uzbekistan and Japan agreed to expand cooperation in sericulture, agriculture and innovation after talks between Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Ilzat Kasimov and Yoshitsugu Minagawa, Director for Agriculture and Regional Development at Japan’s Silk Road Foundation and former Japanese deputy agriculture minister.

Plans include joint projects, scientific and technology exchanges, and introducing advanced Japanese agri-tech in Uzbekistan. The sides also discussed education programs, innovation clusters and new research centers. Tashkent invited Japanese partners to join the «Japan–Central Asia» Summit set for late 2025, with sericulture projects to be showcased.

Bilateral trade has grown 54% over the past...

The World Bank has approved an $800 Mln concessional loan to support Uzbekistan’s structural reforms aimed at cutting poverty, creating jobs and boosting private-sector growth.

The package funds policies to shield low-income households from higher energy tariffs, including raising annual cash transfers per family from UZS 270K to UZS 1 Mln, and expands social services and workplace protections for women. It also opens social service provision to private and NGO providers.

Economic measures include a National Investment Fund to manage and privatize state firms, an independent telecom regulator to spur competition, agricultural risk insurance and liberalised cotton pricing so...

FIFA says ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup have passed 1 Mln, underscoring huge demand for the first 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Fans from 212 countries have bought seats, led by the three hosts, with strong interest from England and Germany.

FIFA’s resale platform lists final tickets at $9,538–$57,500, while at least 40 matches still have seats from $60. The next sales phase opens Oct 27, when single-match tickets for all 104 games go on sale.

So far 28 nations have qualified, including nine from Africa and New Zealand from Oceania. Matches will...

A new multimodal transport route has been launched from Kashgar in China towards Central Asian countries, Anadolu Ajansı reports.

The route will connect China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, creating new opportunities for freight movement and expanding trade across the region.

According to the agency, seven trucks departed on October 15 along this corridor, with arrivals expected in Uzbekistan on October 21 and in Turkmenistan on October 24. Some of the cargo will continue onward to Azerbaijan.

Representatives from China’s Ministry of Transport said the initiative would strengthen economic cooperation among the participating countries and boost the volume of mutual...

The Indonesian Football Federation is assessing several candidates for the position of head coach of its national football team, with Uzbekistan’s Timur Kapadze reportedly on the shortlist, Goal Media reports.

Joining him are German coach Thomas Doll, who previously managed Jakarta club Persija, and Spain’s Jesús Casas, former head coach of Iraq’s national side. A final decision on the appointment is expected in the coming days.

Indonesia has been without a head coach since Dutch manager Patrick Kluivert ended his contract by mutual agreement. Kluivert, who took charge earlier this year, failed to deliver satisfactory results.

The team’s recent...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will travel to Brussels on October 24, where Uzbekistan and the European Union are expected to sign an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

«The agreement underlines the commitment of both sides to continue reforms, economic modernisation and global cooperation, while setting the stage for further initiatives such as the upcoming EU–Central Asia Investment Forum in Tashkent this November,» Euronews highlights.

The document is designed to strengthen political dialogue and expand cooperation in foreign policy, security and justice, with a focus on improving trade conditions. It also includes collaboration in energy, transport...

U.S. Southern Command chief Admiral Alvin Holsey will step down at year’s end, two years ahead of schedule, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced, a surprise move as Washington escalates a standoff with Venezuela. Holsey said on X he will retire on Dec. 12 after 37 years of service, without giving a reason.

A source told Reuters Holsey and Hegseth had clashed over Caribbean operations. The departure follows a regional military buildup that includes guided-missile destroyers, F-35s and about 6,500 troops, and U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela that have killed at least 27 people, drawing legal scrutiny. President...

The Cincinnati Bengals snapped their three-game losing streak with a 31-30 home victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock in a contest that went down to the final seconds.

Rodgers opened strong for the Steelers, finding Jonnu Smith for an early touchdown. But Flacco soon answered, connecting with Ja’Marr Chase and later Tee Higgins to give Cincinnati a 17-10 lead at half-time, aided by two Rodgers interceptions.

The second half saw a flurry of scores as both sides traded touchdowns. Rodgers hit Pat Freiermuth for a 68-yard strike to...

Brazilian YouTuber Júlio Cocielo announced on Thursday, October 16, that he and influencer and presenter Tata Estaniecki have decided to end their marriage. The news was shared through a post on social media, where Cocielo confirmed the separation and asked fans to respect their privacy during this period.

«No one gets married expecting something like this to happen. Of course, it hurts, but sometimes things just happen unexpectedly and without reason,» he wrote. «Maybe it’s just a pause, maybe it’s something that will make us stronger – we don’t know. One day it might all make...

Paul Daniel «Ace» Frehley, the founding guitarist of Kiss and one of rock music’s most influential performers, has died aged 74 following injuries sustained in a fall last month, his family confirmed in a statement.

«We are completely devastated and heartbroken,» his family wrote. «In his final moments, we surrounded him with love, peace, prayers and kind thoughts as he left this world. We will forever cherish his laughter, his generosity and all the wonderful memories he gave us. The magnitude of his passing is beyond comprehension. Ace’s legacy and all that he achieved in...

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been named the highest-paid footballer in the world, according to Forbes, leading a top ten group whose combined annual earnings reach $945 mln. Despite being 40 and in the twilight of his legendary career, the Portuguese star still dominates both on and off the pitch.

Ronaldo, who extended his contract with Saudi club Al Nassr for another two years, is expected to earn $230 mln on the field during the 2025/26 season, including bonuses and commercial incentives. Forbes estimates his total annual income at $280 mln when off-field deals with Nike, Binance, and Herbalife...

The South Korean city of Ulsan and Uzbekistan’s Fergana region have officially become sister cities after signing a cooperation agreement on October 16 at Ulsan City Hall, Yonhap reports.

The ceremony was attended by Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom, Fergana Governor Khayrulla Bozarov, and around 20 representatives from both cities. The new partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in March during an Ulsan delegation’s visit to Fergana, which focused on collaboration in shipbuilding workforce development.

Under the agreement, the two cities will expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the economy, trade, science and technology, culture...

Gold soared to a fresh record above $4,300 an ounce on Friday, on track for its biggest weekly gain in more than 17 years. Fears over US regional banks, trade frictions, and expectations of interest rate cuts prompted investors to seek safety in the precious metal, Reuters reports.

As of 06:15 GMT, spot gold rose 0.8% to $4,359.31 per ounce after hitting an all-time high of $4,378.69 earlier in the session. US gold futures for December delivery advanced 1.6% to $4,372.10. Bullion has jumped around 8.6% this week, recording its best performance since September 2008 in every trading session.

Gazprom is continuing to implement its contract to supply Uzbekistan with 7.7 bn cubic metres of natural gas per year, with significant potential for increasing volumes, including deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Russian government disclosed this in a statement following talks between Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov.

The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation across the gas, oil, and nuclear sectors. In 2024, Russia exported 233,500 tonnes of crude oil to Uzbekistan. Energy companies from both countries are also exploring joint projects to develop hard-to-recover oil and gas reserves in...

Uzbekistan’s composite business climate index increased by two points in September, reaching 57, the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) reports.

The business expectations index remained high at 62 points. A survey of 1,000 entrepreneurs showed that 46% described the current situation as «good», while 30% reported improved performance over the past three months and 47% noted stronger demand.

«Expectations remain positive: 68% of respondents anticipate business conditions to improve further in the next three months, 62% foresee rising demand, and 52% expect employment to expand,» CERR said in its report.

The centre also...

Uzbek and Russian companies are holding talks on the joint development of hard-to-recover oil and gas reserves in Uzbekistan. The discussions were held between Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov.

Figures from the Russian government show that Russia supplied 233,500 tonnes of crude oil to Uzbekistan last year. Alongside cooperation in hydrocarbon exploration and supply, both sides also discussed advancing joint projects in the field of nuclear energy.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of early September this year, Uzbekistan’s oil production stood at 434,500 tonnes. Natural gas output reached...

From January to August 2025, Uzbekistan received 287,700 foreign visitors travelling for commercial purposes, according to the National Statistics Agency. The figure is almost three times higher than during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 190,300 people.

The majority of visitors came from Afghanistan, with 267,800 arrivals. Uzbekistan also saw 14,600 travellers from Tajikistan and 2,200 from Turkmenistan. Smaller numbers of commercial tourists arrived from Russia (585), Turkey (392), and Kazakhstan (373).

The rise in the number of Afghan visitors might be attributed to the establishment of Airitom Free Zone in Termez where...

Tashkent International Airport has launched a new online customs declaration service, allowing arriving passengers to complete their forms electronically. The initiative forms part of Uzbekistan’s wider digitalisation programme led by the State Customs Committee.

The upgraded «Passenger Customs Declaration» platform and its mobile app are currently operating in test mode at Tashkent Airport. Full rollout across all border points in the country is planned for November 1.

Travellers can now submit their customs details via self-service kiosks at airports and land crossings, or through the «Passenger Declaration» mobile application available on Android and iOS. The app automatically fills in...

The Vatican’s child protection commission sharply criticised senior Catholic leaders in its annual report on Thursday, saying victims of clergy sex abuse are not getting timely help and safeguarding reforms remain uneven worldwide.

The 103-page review faults Church authorities for failing to tell victims how their cases are handled or whether negligent bishops are punished. It says some of the commission’s own requests for information went unanswered, noting Italy’s bishops returned surveys from only 81 of 226 dioceses, while South Korea had full participation.

Assessing efforts in 22 countries and the Dicastery for Evangelization, the report says the Vatican...

Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia have signed ten agreements covering areas such as energy and renewable resources, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade reports.

The signing took place on October 14 in Tashkent during the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and the sixth session of the Uzbek–Saudi Business Council. Under the current partnership, 56 projects worth $27.2 bn are being implemented in Uzbekistan with the participation of Saudi investors. At present, 27 companies with Saudi capital operate in the country.

Trade between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia reached $142.4 mln in 2024, while the figure for January to August...

Dozens have been killed in the deadliest Pakistan–Afghanistan flare-up since 2021, even as a 48-hour ceasefire took effect on Wednesday at 13:00 GMT.

Forces & personnel: Pakistan fields about 660K active troops (Army 560K; Air Force 70K; Navy 30K). The Afghan Taliban’s forces number roughly 172K, with plans to expand to 200K.

Equipment: Pakistan has 6,000+ armoured fighting vehicles and 4,600+ artillery pieces, and is modernising with Chinese support. The Taliban hold a mix of Soviet-era tanks, APCs and artillery, but exact inventories are unclear and capability has eroded due to maintenance and parts constraints.

Air power: Pakistan operates...

On October 15, 2025, at 17:40 (GMT+5), AirAsia’s inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur landed at Tashkent International Airport, marking the launch of the new direct route connecting Malaysia and Uzbekistan. The aircraft, carrying 218 passengers, was greeted with a traditional water salute and flowers for the crew.

Passenger check-in for the first flight took place in a festive atmosphere, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a celebratory cake shared by representatives of AirAsia and Uzbekistan Airports. Guests were also treated to a performance by a national dance ensemble, adding colour and cultural flair to the event.

«We...

Colonel Michael Randrianirina said he will be sworn in as «President for the Refoundation» on Friday, days after the army toppled President Andry Rajoelina amid youth-led protests over power cuts and water shortages.

The African Union suspended Madagascar on Wednesday and urged a return to civilian rule and elections. Randrianirina said the suspension was expected and that he is open to behind-the-scenes talks with the bloc.

He announced that the military has dissolved all institutions except the National Assembly and that a military-led committee will govern alongside a transitional cabinet for up to two years before organising polls. Lawmakers...