Uzbekistan

England played out a 1-1 draw with Uruguay in a pre-World Cup friendly match on Friday, in a game marked by controversy surrounding Ben White. The Arsenal defender, recalled to the squad four years after walking out on the team, came off the bench to score what seemed a winner, only to concede a penalty in stoppage time that allowed Uruguay to equalize. His appearance was met with boos from some of the 80,000 fans at Wembley.

The government of Uzbekistan is planning a pilot launch of satellite internet in the country in 2026, including a network based on Starlink technology. This was announced by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov on March 27 at the international forum Digital Qazaqstan 2026 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. According to him, the project is seen as a tool to address gaps in digital infrastructure, particularly for villages and remote areas where connectivity remains weak.

The shift to cashless transactions for real estate and car sales in Uzbekistan is expected to positively impact the economy and banking system, particularly by lowering credit interest rates. Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ahadbek Haydarov stated this during a media dialogue organized by the Central Bank on March 27. He highlighted that currently, 99% of operations in this sector are conducted in cash, which limits efforts to reduce the shadow economy's share.

According to data from the "Uzavtosanoat" association, official dealers in Uzbekistan sold 57,512 cars in January-February 2026. This represents a 14.1% increase (or 7,139 units) compared to the same period last year. The most significant growth was seen in the electric vehicle segment, with sales of the BYD Yuan Up model increasing more than sixfold.

Uzbekistan has announced a cotton harvest target of 3.5 million tons for 2024, representing an increase compared to last year's results. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, harvesting operations are actively underway in the country's main cotton-growing regions, including Fergana, Andijan, Namangan, and Surkhandarya.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed Law No. ZRU-1125 dated March 26, 2026, introducing significant amendments to the country's personal data legislation. The new norms aim to strengthen digital sovereignty while simultaneously creating a legal framework for the entry of global payment systems into the market.

The cotton harvest season in Uzbekistan has concluded, with official data indicating that 3.5 million tons of cotton were collected nationwide. While this figure shows a slight increase compared to last year's results, it fell short of the target set by the government, highlighting ongoing issues in the sector.

Starting April 1, Uzbekistan plans to establish at least 150 kilometers of 'green walls' in the Surkhandarya and Syrdarya regions to prevent dust storms. The National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change announced this, citing a relevant presidential decree.

In Uzbekistan, a children's contest organized by Kia has concluded. Over several weeks, children aged 10 to 14 from across the country shared their stories through short videos about their love for football, dreams, and self-belief. Some participants showcased football skills, others displayed acting talent, while some simply spoke sincerely about why football means more to them than just a game.

Uzbekistan has initiated comprehensive measures to environmentally upgrade its transport system under a presidential decree. As part of this program, starting from August 1 of this year, individuals and legal entities who surrender old vehicles will receive compensation for part of the interest rate on auto loans when purchasing new transport. This "trade-in" program aims to incentivize the population to switch to environmentally friendly vehicles and phase out old, polluting transport means.

Uzbekistan will introduce new mandatory environmental requirements for construction sites starting June 1, though these rules will not apply to individual residential housing construction. According to a presidential decree, all construction sites must be equipped with background monitoring stations, with data integrated into a unified geoinformation database of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change.

Uzbekistan's Minister of Water Resources, Shavkat Khamraev, gave an extensive interview to Kun.uz, addressing issues of water scarcity, conservation and rational use in agriculture, projects in the Aral Sea region, the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal in Afghanistan, the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), and other topics. The minister noted that the problem is not the canal project itself, but how much water neighboring countries will withdraw in the future.