The World Bank has approved a $100 million loan to support a program aimed at integrating renewable energy sources into Uzbekistan’s distribution networks and improving the reliability of electricity supply in priority regions across the country.

Six individuals attempting to smuggle a total of 26.8 kg of narcotic substances from Tajikistan into Uzbekistan have been detained, according to the State Security Service (SSS).

Today, May 19, the Israeli government announced it would once again allow humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Observers have warned that without this assistance, the region faces an imminent threat of widespread famine.

US President Donald Trump's May tour of the Gulf states promises to be a turning point, with "economic diplomacy" taking center stage and, instead of official declarations, dominating large-scale investment and infrastructure projects. The focus is on the US project in the East, which aims to strengthen energy security, stimulate technological transformation, accelerate military cooperation and offer a "new life" to war-torn Gaza through the so-called "Gaza Riviera".

A new development has emerged in the case of 43 students who disappeared in Mexico in 2014: former judge Lambertina Galeana Marín has been arrested on suspicion of destroying evidence related to the incident, according to a report by the BBC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he is ready to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul on May 15.

The Chairman of the Criminal Court of Khanabad city in Andijan region, Yu.E., has been held criminally liable for committing a crime, and his judicial powers have been terminated. This was reported by the Press Service of the Supreme Judicial Council.

A proposal has been made to include 130 sites located in various regions of Uzbekistan — including the Cabinet of Ministers building on Independence Square in Tashkent — in the national list of cultural heritage sites.

The region of Jammu and Kashmir has once again become the epicenter of conflict between India and Pakistan. The latest escalation was triggered by a terrorist attack carried out on April 22, 2025 in the Pahalgam district. The armed assault resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, including 25 Indian citizens and one Nepalese national. Such incidents have significantly heightened tensions in the region and raised concerns within the international community.

The possibility of Donald Trump visiting Central Asia, in particular Uzbekistan, remains relevant. Although not officially announced, the current diplomatic situation and structural factors contribute to the emergence of such a visit.

From April 21 to 23, 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, paid an official visit to Kabul, the capital of the Taliban government, where he held a meeting with the Deputy Head of the Afghan Government, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. As a result of the visit, approximately 20 agreements were signed with a total value of $140 million, marking a significant step in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.

A total of $313 million of Gulnara Karimova's funds frozen in Switzerland has been returned to the people of Uzbekistan. Of this amount, $95 million was transferred to the Trust Fund established jointly by the governments of Uzbekistan and Switzerland. From these funds, $87 million has been allocated equally between Uzbekistan’s healthcare and education sectors. The remaining funds are still being held in Swiss bank accounts under the supervision of the Swiss government.