Economy
War-driven disruptions push Central Asia to rethink agriculture
Rising geopolitical tensions are disrupting Central Asian agriculture, boosting global food prices, straining supply chains and pressuring exports. Experts stress regional cooperation, diversification, and innovation as key responses.
Silk Road Adventures
Exploring museums and cultural heritage
In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
From royal palaces and Silk Road artefacts to avant-garde art and interactive science exhibitions, Uzbekistan’s museums offer visitors a journey through centuries of history and cultural exchange.
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Business Line
Skills development and job creation efforts expand
In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is overhauling its labour market to better match skills with employer demand, expand vocational pathways and support enterprise growth, as demographic pressures raise the stakes for productivity, job creation and long-term economic expansion.
Silk Road Adventures
Where heritage meets contemporary craft and new creative voices
In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Traditional craftsmanship continues to evolve through artisan studios, intimate house museums and revitalised cultural spaces, where heritage techniques intersect with modern design and inspire a new generation of makers.
Culture news
Historic power plant prepares to become new home for contemporary art
Uzbekistan will open a new Centre for Contemporary Arts at a historic former diesel power plant. The exhibition space's inaugural season includes international artists, a Venice Biennale collateral project and city-wide cultural festivals.
Economy
The Central Asian country rewriting the rules on women's rights
Reforms and support programs are gradually improving women’s access to education, internships and business. Women now make up 54% of university students and 61% of research roles, while over 380,000 received loans in 2025. Social norms and gender-based violence still limit progress.
Space
NASA honours astronomers who helped redirect an asteroid
Observations from a global network of telescopes helped verify that NASA’s DART spacecraft successfully altered the orbit of the asteroid moon Dimorphos. The measurements confirmed the first planetary-defence experiment in which a human-made impact changed the motion of a natural celestial body.
Sport
Heavyweights Deliver a Spectacular Finale in Tashkent
The final day in Tashkent saw thrilling heavyweight action. Murad Fatiyev shocked Lasha Bekauri, Kaila Issoufi secured her first Grand Slam gold, Said Sadrudinov made history for Bahrain, and Akira Sone returned to the top. A dramatic finish closed an unforgettable weekend.
Sport
Four Nations Share Gold on Day Two in Tashkent
Day two of the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 saw gold medals claimed by four different nations. Tanioka dominated at -63kg, Abdulloi stunned the home crowd at -73kg, Butkereit impressed in -70kg, and Rajabli secured his first Grand Slam gold at -81kg in front of a passionate Uzbek audience.
Sport
Home Gold Shines on Day 1 in Tashkent
Day one of the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 delivered thrilling action. Hui Xinran claimed -48kg gold, Abe Hifumi stunned with the throw of the day, and Shukurjon Aminova secured Uzbekistan’s first gold. A bronze from Doston Ruziev capped a proud start for the host nation.
Art
Venice Biennale Aral Sea show set to explore environmental disaster
Once the world’s fourth-largest inland sea, the Aral has lost more than 90% of its volume since the 1960s and is now, largely a desert. At the Venice Biennale, a national pavilion will revisit the environmental disaster through art, folklore and collective memory.
Culture news
Art from the shadows of war: Ukraine’s culture celebrated in Tashkent
Four years after the invasion, a poster exhibition presents Ukraine through symbols, colour and everyday life. Contemporary artists reinterpret heritage and resilience, offering audiences a cultural portrait shaped by memory, continuity and quiet defiance.
Silk Road Adventures
Uzbekistan’s theatres and the art of live performance
In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
From puppet stages for children to grand opera houses and regional drama theatres, Uzbekistan’s theatre scene remains a living cultural tradition where stories, craftsmanship and live performance continue to bring audiences together.
USA
Troop and funding pledges come in for Trump's Gaza plan
After signing the Board of Peace’s founding declaration in Davos, the plan for Gaza will now move to concrete implementation. Commitments include reconstruction funding, infrastructure rebuilding and, in one case, troop deployment within the US-backed stabilisation framework for the Strip.
Space
Uzbekistan preps first homegrown satellite and astronaut mission
Uzbekistan plans to launch a 6U CubeSat in 2028 while preparing the framework for a 10–14 day astronaut mission in cooperation with international partners. The focus is on Earth observation data, scientific research and technical capacity building.