Uzbekistan

Central Asian University (CAU) has announced significant changes to its admissions campaign for 2026. The university is reducing the total number of available spots to 700, which, with approximately 2,000 applications already received, is creating intense competition. This new policy reflects a shift towards fewer seats, higher requirements, and more selective screening, aiming to cultivate a more elite academic environment and rigorously filter applicants across key disciplines.

20-year-old Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov secured an early victory in the Candidates Tournament held in Paphos, Cyprus. In the 13th round, Sindarov drew with Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri, accumulating 9.5 points out of a possible 13, which solidified his lead in the prestigious event.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with a report on measures to ensure stability and enhance the financial and economic efficiency of the oil and gas sector. The presentation analyzed the results of Uzbekneftegaz's activities for the first quarter of 2026 and identified key tasks for the near future. The main focus was placed on stabilizing production volumes and deep technological modernization of the industry.

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov secured an early victory in the 2026 Candidates Tournament held in Nicosia, Cyprus. After drawing with Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri in the 13th round, Sindarov accumulated 9.5 points, solidifying his lead before the final round and earning the right to challenge the reigning world chess champion for the crown. His participation was supported by the National Bank of Uzbekistan.

With the growth of Uzbekistan's digital market, local online platforms continue to hold a significant place in the country's media landscape. This topic was one of the key themes at the international Tashkent Marketing Forum 2026, held on February 14, 2026, which gathered dozens of marketing specialists.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan stated at a video conference that mass rejections of construction applications are linked to corruption. He highlighted that last year, out of over 2.6 million construction-related applications, about one-third were denied, and ordered the implementation of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to ensure transparency in these processes.

The press service of the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan announced that Tashkent wedding pilaf has been registered as a geographical indication in the state register. A geographical indication is an intellectual property object that officially confirms a product's belonging to a specific territory and the connection of its unique characteristics to that region.

Under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a video conference meeting was held with the participation of over 500 developers, builders, designers, architects, and urbanists. The meeting discussed the achievement of a 51% urbanization rate in the country and its positive impact on economic growth.

Since 2019, Uzbekistan has begun implementing a digital labeling and product tracking system for tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, water and beverages, and household appliances. However, labeling for water and beverages has been postponed several times, with producers repeatedly emphasizing that this practice is economically unviable. Recently, the UzBev association (Uzbekistan Beverage and Juice Producers Association) appealed to the government, warning of serious risks at the aggregation stage, an unrealistic model, and underdeveloped algorithms. The system operator CRPT Turon responded, but issues persist.

Indian military personnel have arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in the joint military exercise 'Dustlik'. The maneuvers are taking place at the Gurumsaray training ground from April 12 to 25. According to the Indian defense ministry, about 60 personnel from each side are participating. The Indian contingent includes army and air force units, such as infantry divisions, while the Uzbek side has deployed land forces and aviation units.

The processes of land privatization and urban infrastructure development in Uzbekistan are undergoing a profound transformation. At a meeting chaired by the president, it was noted that the absence of general territorial plans is too often used by officials as a formal pretext for rejecting business applications.

European football governing body UEFA on Tuesday rejected Barcelona's complaint over a handball incident in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid. The decision was announced hours before the second leg is set to take place.