Tashkent

The Russian national football team will face Uzbekistan in Tashkent on November 12, according to reports in Russian media. The match adds to Russia's schedule of friendlies as the team remains excluded from FIFA and UEFA competitions, limiting its opponents to nations willing to host or visit for non-competitive games.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before the U.S.-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council in Washington, highlighting efforts to deepen economic and commercial ties between the two countries. The remarks come as the United States seeks stronger business and investment relationships in Central Asia, with Uzbekistan seen as a growing regional partner for trade and cooperation.

Tashkent is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Kabul over Afghanistan's Qosh Tepa canal, a massive project diverting water from the Amu Darya river that threatens water supplies downstream in Uzbekistan. Rather than confrontation, Uzbekistan is seeking negotiation with the Taliban authorities, raising questions about how Central Asian states will manage transboundary water disputes with their Afghan neighbour.

Uzbekistan is planning to set up a Tashkent International Fashion Academy, an initiative aimed at building fashion education and talent in the country. The announcement, reported by FashionUnited, signals the Central Asian nation's effort to develop its fashion and textile sector and raise its international profile in the industry.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the US-Uzbekistan Business and Investment forum. They were joined by Ambassador Sergio Gor, Washington's Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, and Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of Uzbekistan's presidential administration. The meeting highlights growing economic and diplomatic engagement between the United States and Tashkent, with business and investment cooperation at the centre of the agenda.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, the State Department announced. The talks come as Washington continues diplomatic engagement with Central Asian states on security, trade and regional cooperation. Details of the discussion were not immediately released, but the meeting signals continued US interest in strengthening ties with Tashkent.

Uzbekistan and the United States have signed the Artemis Accords, the US-led framework governing cooperation on the exploration and peaceful use of outer space. The agreement, announced by the Anadolu news agency, commits Tashkent to principles such as transparency, interoperability and deconfliction in space activities. It makes Uzbekistan one of the latest countries to join the expanding international coalition supporting NASA's Artemis lunar exploration programme.

The International Boxing Association is set to open an IBA Fit boxing and fitness centre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The facility will combine boxing training with general fitness services, extending the organisation's activities into grassroots and recreational sport. The announcement is drawing attention in the region, where boxing enjoys strong popularity and Uzbekistan has produced notable international champions.