In the early morning of April 26, 1966, a powerful earthquake struck Tashkent. The epicenter of the tremors, estimated at around 8 on the Richter scale, was located almost in the city center, leading to the destruction of many old-type single-story houses, administrative and public buildings. Over 300,000 people were left homeless, making it one of the most severe natural disasters in the city's history.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed a meeting of the Council of Heads of Founder States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in Astana, presenting key directions for the country's upcoming chairmanship of the organization, which transitions to Uzbekistan starting next year. This chairmanship positions Uzbekistan to take a leading role in addressing regional environmental challenges, though it comes amid persistent ecological and water management issues in the Aral Sea basin.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan addressed a meeting of the Council of Heads of Founder States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), announcing that Uzbekistan will assume the chairmanship of the organization in 2024. He expressed intentions to transform the fund into a key driver of regional integration and proposed aligning its activities with decisions from Central Asian summits, as well as establishing a legal framework for water resource distribution involving Afghanistan.
FIFA Club World Cup champions Chelsea have dismissed their head coach Liam Rosenior following a run of five consecutive defeats. The 41-year-old had only been appointed as the permanent replacement for Enzo Maresca in January of this year.
Uzbekistan's cotton harvest reached 3.5 million tons in 2024, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this achievement was driven by the adoption of modern technologies and improvements in irrigation systems.
In Samarkand, as part of a global forum on combating drug threats, significant international meetings took place at a high level. Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva held talks with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) Secretary Stefano Berterame.
Tashkent – Uzbekistan's Hydrometeorological Service Center (Uzgidromet) has refuted circulating online forecasts predicting 'extreme heat, drought, water shortages, and dust storms' for the summer of 2026. Official meteorologists characterized these predictions as lacking scientific basis and being speculative in nature.
Under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan, the first online meeting of the Dialogue of Leading Women of Central Asia and Azerbaijan was held. The event, themed "Women of Central Asia and Azerbaijan: Priority Tasks and Joint Actions," saw participation from representatives of parliaments across the region, as well as leaders of international structures, including regional UN subdivisions.
The annual Femina "From Idea to Success" forum took place in Tashkent, bringing together over 200 women interested in professional and personal development, as well as seeking new growth opportunities. Over several years, the forum has evolved into a stable platform for dialogue, experience exchange, and the development of a strong women's community. Participants included entrepreneurs, experts, opinion leaders, and women just starting their journeys, all united by the common goal of scaling projects and realizing their potential.
Uzbekistan has implemented new regulations for assessing the work of artists and sculptors undertaking state commissions. The departmental act, registered with the Ministry of Justice, outlines criteria for determining remuneration for authors of fine and applied art works, factoring in elements such as artistic value, material costs, and creative contribution.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised the work of the Zamin Foundation, led by Uzbekistan's First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, in combating childhood cancer. In a post on social media platform X following a visit to the Republican Center for Pediatric Oncology in Tashkent, Ghebreyesus highlighted that the Zamin Foundation plays a crucial role in improving healthcare services and establishing a network of hospital schools called "Mehrli Maktab" across the country.
Customs officials in the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan have thwarted two attempts to illegally import jewelry with a total value exceeding 501 million soms. The violations were detected at the "Alat" border checkpoint and at Bukhara Airport.